Fifty homes will be built on the edge of Wells after councillors approved plans criticised for giving residents "scratty little gardens".

The Cathedral View development at New House Farm, west of Portway, received backing from Somerset Council's planning committee east on 6 October. Twenty of the homes will be affordable, including 15 for social rent.

Outline permission for up to 50 homes was granted on appeal in August 2024 to Gleeson Strategic Land Ltd. Wain Homes Severn Valley subsequently bought the site and submitted its detailed proposals in August 2025.

The agricultural land sits between Wells Touring Park and properties on Elm Close, near the Priority Fields development. It is also south of the proposed new home for Wells Rugby Football Club.

Vehicles will enter from Portway, while an existing footpath through the site will be improved to provide a connection to Elm Close. Existing farm buildings will be demolished to accommodate an attenuation pond and public open space at the northern end of the development.

The affordable provision comprises 15 social rented homes and five first homes. Legal agreements attached to the outline permission also provide nearly £254,000 for local schools, focused on St Cuthbert's Junior School, and just over £23,000 for improvements at Bath's Royal United Hospital.

But the detailed layout prompted questions about how much outdoor space residents would have.

Cllr Barry Clarke, Conservative member for Mendip Central and East, said: "We've got houses with gardens almost as small as the footprint of the houses themselves.

"If we're talking about sustainability, we ought to look to the future a bit more and think that perhaps we're going to end up growing more of our food one day.

"I do despair when I see the size of these scratty little gardens – we're going to put conservatories in them and kids' toys in them. I would like us to remove permitted development rights for that."

Liberal Democrat councillor Steve Ashton took a different view, arguing that the proposed density was relatively low. He said the layout was acceptable when considered against national planning guidance.

The future management of the estate's green spaces was another concern. Lydia Norton, who lives on the nearby Foxglove Heights estate, described difficulties getting maintenance issues addressed where she lives.

She said: "I've had multiple sustained issues trying to get in contact with the managers of the estate, regarding the management of the green space, the hedgerows, tree planting, use of glyphosate and other harmful pesticides on the estate as well as generally maintaining the proposed ecological benefits.

"Not only is it impossible to get in contact with the people that are managing these green spaces, but it's also impossible to get some agreed residents' decisions actually implemented on the ground.

"If we get these matters adjusted at this point, rather than waiting multiple years down the line, then I think we can get a more productive outcome for everyone involved."

Cllr Ros Wyke, whose Mendip West division includes the site, questioned the level of parking and walking connections to local facilities. She also queried why the green buffer had been placed near the touring park rather than closer to existing homes on Elm Close.

Despite the concerns, councillors approved the plans by eight votes to none, with one abstention. Wain Homes has indicated it wants to begin construction as soon as possible after Christmas.

Reporting by Daniel Mumby, Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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