Serena Wootton voices concerns about Persimmon’s homes in Ilminster

Serena Wootton, Green Party candidate for the Yeovil constituency, has expressed her opinions on the Persimmon’s plan on Canal Way.

She said: “The news that the Persimmon development in Ilminster has been approved is of concern to many residents.

“South Somerset has reached a tipping point where large developments can damage the existing communities.

“We know the underfunding of infrastructure and services since 2010 is already impacting the lives of families.

“We are also seeing that our waterways and roads are unable to handle the increases.

“The extreme weather events of recent years have caused flooding and planning committees must take into account the knock-on effect on villages and towns downstream.

“A 20 percent increase in size would stretch the services of any town to breaking point.

“Right price, right place? I don't think so.”

Residents pleaded with Somerset Council to refuse the plans when its planning committee south met on Tuesday afternoon (January 9), citing the lack of infrastructure, the lack of a new school, and no money for upgrading the Stop Line Way active travel route.

The development site lies between Canal Way and Herne Hill, which was designated as a local nature reserve by South Somerset 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.

In October 2023, Persimmon said that the final amount would be for a maximum of 360 homes in light of the phosphate mitigation that will be required.

The site is one of more than 50 major housing developments in the former South Somerset area which have been delayed by the phosphates crisis, with additional mitigation being needed to prevent any increase in phosphate levels within the Somerset Levels and Moors catchment area.