Villagers hope to raise £70,000 to block 100 homes

A 25-acre development is being proposed on land next to the village of Keinton Mandeville, Somerset

Villagers are trying to raise £70,000 to pay for a judicial review of a council's decision to approve 100 new homes.

Locals in Keinton Mandeville, south Somerset, say it is being "overwhelmed by cumulative housing developments".

Residents' action group Shock has voiced concerns about the impact the latest development could have on local infrastructure and community life.

The developer, Keinton Mandeville LVA, previously said 35 of the homes would be designated as affordable. It has also promised to provide £1.2m towards more primary school places and £213,000 for a new village play area.

But members of Shock, which has so far raised half of its target, said that a 25% increase in the village's housing since 2016 was a "more than generous contribution".

One of three fields proposed for the 100-home development

In July 2022, Keinton Mandeville LVA put forward plans for a 25-acre, 100-home development across three fields south of the village's High Street.

The proposal received more than 500 objections from residents, citing concerns including congestion, pressure on the village's primary school and over-development.

Paul Hamlet, deputy chairman of Shock, which stands for Stop Housing Obliterating the Character of Keinton, said that local infrastructure "can't stand" more housing.

The school had to have a sixth classroom built as a result of previous development, he said, and there was "no room" for a further extension.

Mr Hamlet said such developments were "destroying the very nature of Somerset".

Somerset Council approved the plans in June this year, subject to a section 106 agreement, which puts a legal requirement on the developer to provide funds or fulfil other obligations to mitigate the impact of a development on the community.

In a statement, the council said that, once the section 106 agreement was in place, Keinton Mandeville Parish Council would be within its rights to challenge the basis of the planning decision.