Somerset's smallest city will be getting 100 new homes and a larger cemetery following a decision by council planning officers.

Gladman Developments applied in June 2019 to construct the new homes south of the B3139 Elm Close in Wells, close to the city's existing cemetery on the A371 Portway.

Mendip District Council's planning board originally voted to grant permission in January 2020, with the proposals being re-approved by Somerset Council's planning committee east in December 2023 to account for additional phosphate mitigation (which was required following the Dutch N court ruling).

David Wilson Homes subsequently purchased the site, and put forward revised proposals in October 2024 for the same number of homes and an extension to the cemetery.

Somerset Council has now given these plans the green light, meaning construction could begin some time in the new year.

The site (which is allocated for housing within the Mendip Local Plan Part II) lies between Elm Close and Burcott Lane, a short distance from the busy junction with the A371 Portway leading into the city centre.

Access to the new homes will be via a new junction onto Elm Close, with a new footpath and cycle lane being created along the entire northern side of the development site.

The developer has also promised to upgrade two existing public rights of way linking the site to Burcott Lane – one on the western border (where 47 new homes were approved in January) and one to the east, which will run through the extended cemetery.

Three new pedestrian crossing points will be provided over Elm Close – including one at the north-western corner,connecting the site to the New House Farm site (where 50 home were granted on appeal in August 2024).

The other two crossing points will be at the north-eastern corner of the site, either side of the cemetery extension.

Of the 100 homes planned for the site, 40 will be affordable, meeting the council's target of 30 per cent affordable housing for any new development of ten homes or more within the former Mendip area.

The new homes will have access to a play area at the south-western corner of the site, with a new attenuation pond being constructed nearby to prevent flooding in the local area.

A spokesman for the Pegasus Group (representing the developer) said: "The proposals will deliver 100 new homes, including the provision of 40 affordable homes at a time of acute need at both the regional and national level, together with the benefits of the provision of high-quality market housing, landscaping, sustainable drainage and ecological enhancements.

"The proposed play area is to benefit from a high degree of natural surveillance and is designed to act as a focal point within the development."

Wells lies within the catchment of the River Sheppey, which flows into the River Brue to the south – meaning it lies within the Somerset Levels and Moors catchment area.

To offset any net increase in phosphates from these new homes, new drainage systems will be installed within the site and phosphate credits will be purchased by fallowing agricultural land at Manor Farm in Prestleigh, near Shepton Mallet.

David Wilson Homes is currently delivering two other developments within the former Mendip district – the Somer Meadows estate in Midsomer Norton (comprising 270 homes on the A367 Green Park Road) and the Francis Fields site in Frome (comprising 222 homes either side of the B3092 The Mount).

The plans were approved by the council's planning officers through their delegated powers, rather than via a public decision by its planning committee east.

Planning officer Josh Cawsey said in his written report: "The principle of the development of up to 100 dwellings and associated development upon the site has been established.

"It is assessed that the proposed site layout responds to the existing built form of the surrounding area, while providing a softened link to the wider countryside to the south and west of the site."

Construction on the new homes is likely to begin by the summer of 2026.

The council is expected to make a decision in the coming months on plans for a further 116 homes a few hundred yards to the west of this site, put forward by Gleeson Land Ltd.