No new primary school for Ilminster if 360 homes go ahead

Persimmon Homes South West applied in January 2017 to build up to 400 new homes and a primary school on land south of Canal Way, using the existing access to The Meadows doctors’ surgery.

South Somerset District Council voted in late-2017 to approve the plans, but legal agreements to secure new community facilities (including the new school) were held up by the phosphates crisis.

The developer has now unveiled amended plans for up to 360 homes on the same site, with land being set aside to offset the impact of the new dwellings on the Somerset Levels and Moors.

However, Somerset Council has now confirmed that it is no longer its intention to deliver a new school near the development, preferring to expand an existing school instead.

The  development site lies between Canal Way and Herne Hill, which was designated as a local nature reserve by the district council in July 2018.

Access will be from the Canal Way roundabout, with the existing entrance to The Meadows being altered, with large amounts of green space being provided at the southern edge of the site as it slopes upwards.

The site is bordered by numerous public rights of way, including the Stop Line Way which provides an off-road cycle route south to Donyatt and Chard – and which could be enhanced as part of the development.

In addition, the development will provide improved footpath links to Herne Hill from both the new homes and the neighbouring Archie Gooch Sports Pavilion, where Ilminster Town Football Club play their home games.

While the plans ostensibly remain for 400 dwellings, Persimmon has admitted that the final amount will be for a maximum of 360 homes in light of the phosphate mitigation which will be required.

A spokesman for Carney Sweeney (representing the developer) said: “In order to respond positively to the consultee and officer comments on matters such as master-planning, place-making, landscaping and bio‐diversity, it is likely that the site’s capacity will actually be between 350 and 360 dwellings, although this can only be confirmed at the reserved matters stage.”

Of the new homes, 35 per cent will be affordable – the equivalent of a maximum of 126 properties.

The land nearest the Canal Way roundabout remains in council ownership, and was originally earmarked for a new school under the original Persimmon plans.

The council-owned land that was originally earmarked for a new school. (Image: Daniel Mumby)

Delivering new schools is the responsibility of Somerset Council, with the developer providing the land (if needed) and contributing to the cost of the build through either a Section 106 agreement or the community infrastructure levy (CIL).

Somerset County Council recently reformed Ilminster’s schools from a three-tier system (first, middle and high) to a two-tier system (primary and secondary) – a move which was unpopular with many local parents and was only implemented in September 2022 following a failed judicial review against the council.

As part of these reforms, Swanmead Community School and Greenflyde Church of England First School merged to form Herne View Church of England Primary School, which has its main base on the former Swanmead site on Ditton Street, near the town’s Tesco superstore.

Somerset Council has now confirmed that it intends to expend the Ditton Street site rather than building a new school near Canal Way – with these proposals expected to go out to local consultation in the spring.

A spokesman said: “Our preferred option is to consolidate primary school provision in Ilminster onto the existing Herne View (Ditton Street) site and expand the accommodation there to meet future need.

“We and our partners at Futures for Somerset are currently working with the school’s headteacher and governing body on a detailed feasibility plan and an associated capital bid.

“If that bid is successful, the intention is to commission the project in the spring of 2024 and undertake all necessary statutory processes, including community consultation, once there is a design solution available to consult on.

“We will obviously look at affordability as part of that process and ensure that all possible funding sources are considered.”

The council is currently under huge financial pressure, with Brexit, the coronavirus pandemic and the rises in both inflation and interest rates affecting its ability to deliver essential services.

The entire capital programme of the council (which includes the building of new schools) is currently under review ahead of next year’s budget being agreed in February – with any new bids being heavily scrutinised to ensure they are affordable.

Even if the bid is improved, current economic conditions mean that the costs could still rise sharply – with the cost of delivering the new Orchard Grove Primary School in Taunton rising by £5m since the project was first announced.

The council has not confirmed whether it intends to sale off the vacant land on Canal Way for more housing or to use it for other community usage, such as a village hall, sports facilities or a local shop.

A spokesman said: “If it becomes apparent that the Canal Way site is no longer required for a school, we will undertake a thorough options appraisal in order to determine how it should be used in the future.”

A decision on the revised Persimmon proposals is expected to be taken in the coming months by the council’s planning committee south, which makes decision on all major planning applications in the former South Somerset area.