Town's road improvements refused for second time

The proposed site for 130 homes on Stalbridge Road in Henstridge

Planned works on a crucial part of road near the Somerset-Dorset border have been refused for a second time.

Barratt David Wilson Homes secured planning permission in May 2022 to build 130 homes on Woodhayes Way in Henstridge.

To offset the impact of the new homes, the developer proposed to improve the A357 High Street to make it safer for pedestrians and ensure safe traffic flow.

The original road proposals were refused by Somerset Council's planning committee in October 2023 and the same committee has now rejected revised proposals.

In a statement, David Wilson Homes said it would still carry out works on the site until the issue was resolved.

But as part of the planning conditions agreed in November 2018, no construction within the site can begin until road improvements have been signed off by planning officers, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

In July 2023, campaigners accused developers of breaching planning permission

The A357 forms a north-south spine of the village, connecting it to Stalbridge and other communities in north Dorset as well as the crucial A30 running between Sherborne and Shaftesbury.

It is extremely narrow in places with limited pavements.

The improvements put forward by the developer concern the section north of the Townsend Landings site, between the junction with Blackmoor Lane and the crossroads linking it with Furge Lane and Marsh Lane.

Campaigners said the water mains work at the site carried out in July 2023 were in breach of planning rules

David Wilson Homes said: “While we are disappointed by the recent planning decision at Monday’s planning committee, David Wilson Homes has an ongoing responsibility for the site.

“Therefore, as considerate developers, we are currently in the process of carrying out tree protection works onsite which has been approved and signed off by officers.

“These are essential measures and are vital for the safeguarding of local greenery, which we anticipate will last around three weeks.

“This work is unconnected to the planning decision taken earlier this week in relation to Townsend Landings."

In July 2023, the Henstridge A537 Road Group accused developers of breaching planning permission.