A SOMERSET village on the A303 is set to expand in the months ahead after plans for 36 new homes were approved.

Lovell Homes applied to build the homes east of Cherry Pie Lane in Sparkford, not far from the Bristol to Weymouth railway line.

South Somerset District Council has now given the plans the green light, meaning construction can begin in the months ahead.

This decision comes as the government prepares to finally decide whether the A303 to the west of the village will become a dual carriageway.

The council approved outline plans for the development in May 2019, which established that the new homes would be accessed via Bennett Close rather than the narrower Cherry Pie Lane.

This most recent approval, known as reserved matters, has confirmed the size and layout of the homes – which will range from two- to four-bedroom houses, along with a small number of bungalows.

While none of the new homes will be ‘affordable’ (i.e. being sold below the current market rate), the site does include a parcel of land for a new village hall which can be brought forward in the near-future.

A spokesman for the Tamworth-based developer said: “36 high-quality homes can be provided within a structured and organised layout, incorporating common amenity areas, wide and ample roads, large private amenity spaces and associated parking needs.

“Elevations and floor plans have been developed to provide attractive homes coupled with variance throughout the site, to respond to the needs of today’s contemporary lifestyles whilst also providing flexibility within the homes themselves.

“It will aid in providing much-needed new housing and facilitating long-lasting benefits to the local area.”

Netta Meadows, the council’s director of service delivery, said the development would “result in no significant adverse impact on the character and visual amenities of the area, and would cause no demonstrable harm to the landscape, residential amenity, highway safety, flood risk or biodiversity interests.”

Sparkford lies just south of the busy A303, which moves from dual to single carriageway west of the Sparkford roundabout with the A359.

Highways England has put forward plans to dual the single carriageway stretch between Sparkford and the Podimore roundabout near Ilchester, which could cost up to £250M.

The Department for Transport said it was “minded to refuse” in August, calling for additional information to address local concerns about local access, users of non-motorists vehicles (including bicycles and horses) and the impact on the nearby RNAS Yeovilton.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps MP is expected to announce his final decision on whether the proposals should proceed on November 20.