Long-running plans to build 100 homes on the Yeo Valley site in Cheddar have taken a step forward following a vote by local councillors.

Yeo Valley Farm and Holt Farms Ltd. applied in August 2018 for outline permission to build up to 100 new homes on their former storage facility off the A371 Axbridge Road in Cheddar. The project also includes a 60-bed care home, 12 extra care units, business units, and a nursery.

Sedgemoor District Council ‘s development committee voted to approve the plans in November 2020, despite concerns about the capacity of local schools and the impact on the Mendip Hills national landscape (formerly an area of outstanding natural beauty, or AONB).

The legal agreements surrounding the site were not signed until late May 2023 – by which time “a range of commercial risks” surrounding the development had emerged, prompting the owners to sell the site to Homes England.

Somerset Council (which replaced the district council in April 2023) has now approved revised proposals for the site put forward by Homes England – meaning that work to clear the site and build new homes could finally begin early in the new year.

Live/Work combination

Under the revised plans, 100 new homes will be delivered along with five “live/work units," which are designed for self-employed people who wish to work from home.

The 60-bed care home will also be built on-site, alongside 12 ‘extra care’ units for people aged 55 and over who are more capable of living independently but want access to communal facilities.

Both these care facilities and up to 750 sq m of commercial space will be included near the main road to “make them more attractive to market and for future residents," with the nursery being located at the south-east corner of the site.

Councillor Bob Filmer, who represents the adjoining Brent division, said: “There was a great deal of interest in this site when it first came forward. The tweaks that have been made appear to be improvements.

Councillor Alistair Hendry (Highbridge and Burnham South) agreed: “I’ve no problem with this whatsoever. The developers and architects have clearly done their homework.”

Cheddar has seen significant housing growth in the last few years, with the delivery of the Oak Park development (comprising 96 homes on the A371 Upper New Road), the Peregrine View estate (60 homes off Hellier’s Lane) and the Steart Farm site (58 homes on Wedmore Road).

Construction also recently began on the Lavender Rise development of 53 homes on Houlgate Way in the neighbouring town of Axbridge.

The committee voted unanimously to approve the revised plans after less than half an hour’s debate.