PLANS for up to 650 homes, shops and more on a 66-hectare site in west Wincanton have been submitted – prompting anger from some residents.

The scheme, submitted by Origin3 on behalf of Hook Valley LVA LLP, also includes plans to demolish agricultural buildings on the Lawrence Hill site, with a care home, primary school/nursery and shops built alongside the homes.

Your New Blackmore Vale first reported on the potential development in September last year.

Accesses from West Hill and Lawrence Hill would also be built as part of the plans, alongside a new pedestrian and cycle route.

A plan for around 200 homes in the area, submitted to South Somerset District Council in 2019, was refused, as the site was not in the authority’s local plan, and would harm the landscape.

However, the new application said these plans were different and that “many more significant benefits” “demonstrably outweigh any adverse impacts”.

The application outlines plans for up to 650 new homes, with 35% of them counted as ‘affordable housing’, along with a 60-bed care home, a ‘local centre’ which could include a convenience store and café, a primary school and a 60-place nursery/pre-school.

An illustrative layout of the proposed development. Picture: Origin3/LVA

Around 2.2 hectares of the site would be allocated to ‘land for employment’, it added.

“Somerset Council has confirmed the two primary schools in Wincanton are at capacity and unable to accommodate any further expansion, hence a new primary school and a 60-place nursery will be required,” it said.

It added: “Latest forecasts indicate there are currently sufficient places in King Arthur’s Community College to accommodate secondary pupils from the proposed development.”

Access to the development would come from five points, the application said, including a new access off the Anchor Hill Roundabout, two priority junctions north and south of Lawrence Hill and two priority junctions on West Hill.

READ MORE: Plans for 650 homes, care home and school in Wincanton revealed

More than half of the development site would be used for “green infrastructure”, the plans said, including public open spaces, children’s play areas and “space for teenagers” including a multi-use games area, and allotments and community orchards.

A host of objections to the plans have been submitted, including concerns over health provision in the town and the development of green space.

Marion Tibbett, of Blackford, said: “The assumptions on which the application is based do not hold up when considered against the success (or not) of existing facilities and infrastructure (for example Health Centre, schools, roads).

“The Health Centre in particular is operating at maximum capacity with a much reduced staff from that in place in recent years, clear difficulties in recruiting.

“If the development is being considered for approval despite the overwhelming level of local objection, stringent constraints on developer supplied infrastructure must be applied.”

Accesses would be added to the Anchor Hill Roundabout and others. Picture: Google

Tyler Dix, of Wincanton, wrote: “Poor quality, too many houses, poor planning, built for profit and to tick a box. Pure greed.

“There’s plenty of unused buildings all over Wincanton which should be developed first.”

Ross Murray, of Wincanton, was among few comments in support of the scheme.

“I think the proposal is sound, however, the developer must be held to account on building supporting infrastructure like schooling and primary healthcare,” they said.

“I would also like to see a developer in this area offering homes under the First Home scheme in partnership with the council.”

People can comment on the application at somerset.gov.uk, reference 24/01257/OUT.