Farmer warns new homes 'at risk' amid legal delays

Somerset Council granted approval for the project in January

A development of hundreds of new homes could fall through unless legal agreements are quickly signed, the landowner has warned.

The Young family has farmed in the area around Ilchester for more than 100 years and secured permission from Somerset Council to build 200 new homes near the A303 in January.

But Patrick Young says the plans, which include commercial space, a community hub and a nature reserve, may not go ahead unless legal agreements with the council can be signed off.

The council apologised for the "delay and frustration" Mr Young has experienced and said its solicitor was working on the agreements.

The legal delays involve Section 106 agreements, which lay out what a developer will do to support local facilities such as transport, schools, health services and play areas.

The Hainbury Farm development promises 70 affordable homes, nearly £1.7m for education and youth facilities, and major environmental enhancements, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The majority of the site will be taken up by a new nature reserve

Speaking at a council meeting on 22 April, Mr Young said repeated attempts to finalise the Section 106 agreements had been ignored.

He said: "Over the last three months, almost on a daily basis, we've been trying to get the name of the council's solicitor, so that we can connect them with our solicitor and the Section 106 discussions can begin.

"Despite dozens of emails from myself, our solicitor and our planning consultant, we have got nowhere.

"We're now at a point of risking the developers who are interested because we have made absolutely no progress."

A council spokesperson confirmed the name of the solicitor assigned to the case to Mr Young and said they would be in contact with him or his representatives.

"We apologise that you have experienced delay and frustration making progress towards agreeing the Section 106 and the decision notice being issued," they said.