Wells residents raise £5,600 to fight hillside homes

By Laura Linham 14th Jul 2026

Local News by Laura Linham 15 minutes ago

A residents' campaign against plans for 73 homes on land off Orchard Lea in Wells has raised more than £5,600 to fund professional advice.

The Save Wells Hillside group was set up after Rubix Land Ltd applied for outline planning permission to develop 5.38 hectares of land on the north-western edge of the city. The campaign says its Crowdfunder has raised £5,630 from 108 supporters, exceeding its original £5,500 target.

The group says the money has paid for planning and landscape specialists to prepare reports objecting to the scheme. Those reports have now been completed and submitted to Somerset Council, which is considering the application under reference 2026/0531/OUT.

Save Wells Hillside said: "The fundraiser has hit its target, and the expert reports have been completed and submitted to Somerset County Council — a huge thank you to everyone who has supported the campaign so far.

"Whilst the closing date for objections has passed, it is still possible to submit a public comment for consideration up until the point a decision on the application has been made by SCC."

The application, submitted on behalf of Rubix Land Ltd by OG Group, seeks outline permission for a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom homes, including affordable housing. The proposed access would be through Orchard Lea, with pedestrian and cycle links included in the plans.

The submitted scheme also includes public open space, landscaping and a sustainable drainage system. Planning documents lodged with the council say the development has been designed to respond to the landscape setting of the site.

Campaigners say the land forms part of the Underwood Special Landscape Feature and contributes to the setting of Wells and the nearby Mendip Hills National Landscape. They have also raised concerns about traffic on Orchard Lea, wildlife and biodiversity, drainage, phosphates, and the potential impact on the setting of Wells Cathedral and Milton Lodge parkland.

On its fundraising page, the group said: "We do recognise the need for new housing, but only when it is in line with publicly approved local government plans and with well thought out design and planning principles. We regard this proposed development as opportunistic.

"If this planning application was successful, this beloved landscape setting of the city of Wells, would be lost forever."

Documents submitted with the application state: "The masterplan integrates the development into the landscape, preserving its natural character while improving connections to the surrounding environment."

The application also says the site is within walking distance of schools, parks, healthcare, employment and the city centre. It says new residents would be offered a Green Travel Voucher to encourage alternatives to car journeys.

Although the formal consultation deadline has passed, Save Wells Hillside says residents can still submit comments while the application remains undecided. The plans can be viewed on Somerset Council's planning portal using reference 2026/0531/OUT.