Residents of Oakhill, a village near Shepton Mallet in Somerset, have voiced concerns that a proposed 26-home development would leave them with 'no breathing room'. The comments were made during a public inquiry into the plans, which were initially refused by Mendip District Council in June 2022.
The application, submitted by Johnstone Land Company (Bristol) in December 2020, sought to build homes at the western end of Chapelfield. The council cited road safety and harm to the village's character as reasons for refusal, but the developer argued it was a 'sensible extension' to the existing village.
Planning inspector Alison Partington is overseeing the inquiry, which began on Tuesday at Somerset Council's Shepton Mallet offices. The developer's representative, Kit Stokes, stated that the development would fit within the village's envelope and continue the existing mix of terraced and semi-detached housing.
The Planning Inspectorate will publish its findings later this year. The original Mendip District Council has since been dissolved, with Somerset Council now handling local planning matters.
