Twenty-four brand‑new homes in a small village near the A303 have stood empty for more than ten months due to unresolved legal issues surrounding the development.
Stonewater Housing Association secured planning permission in March 2024 to build 24 homes on Foldhill Lane in Martock, opposite the La Fontana dementia nursing home.
Construction finished nearly a year ago, yet all the homes are still empty due to outstanding legal issues between the developer and Somerset Council.
David Polson has been complaining on behalf of his former partner and their four‑year‑old daughter, who are among those waiting to move into one of the new homes.
Despite repeated attempts to obtain clarity from Stonewater and the council, Mr Polson said he has been left without any meaningful explanation for the ongoing delays.
Mr Polson’s daughter, Indie, who is non-verbal autistic and attends a special school in Yeovil, has been living in a house of multiple occupation (HMO) with her mother since June last year.
The property does not allow visitors for safeguarding reasons, leaving them feeling isolated and unsupported while they wait to move into their new home which is offered at affordable rent.
Mr Polson said: "Twenty‑four new homes in Martock are still empty after almost a year because Somerset Council has failed to complete the required Section 278 agreement.
"We’ve had no response from the council. There has been a total lack of courtesy or clarity.
"In the midst of a housing crisis, there seems to be no urgency to put these brand‑new homes into occupancy.
Read more
"The HMO not allowing visitors is really affecting my daughter’s emotional regulation and development. When my ex moved in there the council said it would only be temporary."
A Section 278 agreement allows a housing developer to make improvements or alterations to an adopted highway, such as creating a safe access or installing pavements.
As of Wednesday (February 25), estate roads on the northern edge of the site remained unfinished, and the entrance to the homes was fenced off to restrict public access.
Somerset Council recently approved two applications linked to the development: one permitting off‑site highway improvements to be completed after occupation, and another approving the design of public artwork within the site.
The project had already been delayed by nearly four years due to the county‑wide phosphates crisis, which required Stonewater to agree additional mitigation to prevent any net increase in phosphates on the Somerset Levels and Moors.
The council did not comment specifically on Mr Polson’s complaint but said it was working closely with Stonewater to resolve the outstanding issues.
A spokesperson said: “We are aware of the distress this has caused and have apologised to the affected families. The delay was due to some land‑ownership issues.
"We are working with Stonewater to revise the highway mitigation measures and planning consent as soon as possible, so that these homes can be occupied."
Matt Crucefix, Stonewater's director of development operations, said: "We understand how distressing this situation has been for the family and the impact the delay has had.
"Supporting them to move into their new home as soon as possible remains our absolute priority.
"We are working closely with Somerset Council to progress the remaining steps needed to complete the scheme.
"In situations like this, external technical requirements such as Section 278 agreements can sometimes add complexity to the final stages of delivery, which is why continued collaboration between partners is so important.
"We are committed to working with the council to help streamline these
processes wherever possible.
"All partners are focused on moving things forward quickly and safely so customers can move in without further delay. We remain committed to doing everything within our control to support this."
Share