WORK has started to build 85 homes on derelict land in Ilminster.

The Winterhay Lane development will be built on the old factory site opposite Daido Industrial Bearings factory, but faced local opposition before it was given the go-ahead.

Applications to build on the site have been put forward since January 2012, and the current plans finally came before South Somerset District Council last year.

It includes 40 homes for rent, 25 for shared ownership and 20 houses for rent-to-buy.

The project has been part-funded by Homes England, the government’s housing and regeneration agency.

A grant of £2.8million was given as part of its role in supporting growth in communities.

The building is being carried out by property developer LiveWest and construction company Halsall.

BUILD: The development includes 40 homes 'for rent'

Nathan Cronk, LiveWest development director, said: “The new homes at Winterhay Lane provide a fantastic opportunity for local people to access great affordable homes and get a foot on the property ladder.

“The scheme also sees LiveWest continue their successful partnership with Halsall, who has delivered great homes for us nearby in Martock recently and also in Barnstaple, Bovey Tracey, East Taphouse, Four Lanes and Willand in the last three years.”

Work is set to be completed by January 2021.

When the application came before Ilminster Town Council, they recommended refusal and raised a list of 22 issues they had with the plans.

These included insufficient parking, poor visibility and dangerous access on the corner from Station Road into Winterhay Lane, and access for emergency vehicles.

First, an outline application for 72 homes with 600 square metres of office space received the go ahead from SSDC.

Then, a more detailed full application for the project’s first phase - which includes 19 homes - was give the green light.

This full application included some changes from the earlier 72-home designs, and now the total number of properties on the site will be 85.

Some of the homes will be part of the government’s rent-to-buy scheme. Properties are made available for first-time buyers to rent at 80 per cent of market rental value for, typically, seven years before the occupier gets first refusal to buy it.

While paying less in rent, the resident has the opportunity to build up a deposit to buy the property, but there is no obligation to buy the property if the resident decides not to.

The scheme is available for households with an income below £80,000.

Val Keitch, leader of SSDC, said: “We hope that these new affordable homes will go some way to tackling the housing shortage in the area and help more local people find a good quality home close to their friends, family and workplace, at a price they can truly afford.”

DERELICT: The plot has lain dormant for years