Approval Granted for Redevelopment of Former Dairy Site

Revised proposals for the redevelopment of a disused dairy facility site have advanced following their approval by local councillors, marking progress for a long-standing initiative. Yeo Valley Farm and Holt Farms Ltd originally sought authorization in August 2018 to redevelop the storage facility location situated off the A371 Axbridge Road in Cheddar. The proposed development encompasses the demolition of current structures to accommodate 100 new residences, in addition to a 60-bed care home, 12 so-called extra care units, commercial units, and a nursery. Somerset Council granted unanimous approval to the updated proposals during a meeting held on 12 November, indicating that construction could commence early next year. The Local Democracy Reporting Service reported that the initial proposal faced a delay due to worries regarding the capacity of nearby educational institutions and the effect on the Mendip Hills national landscape, which was previously designated an area of outstanding natural beauty. Nevertheless, Sedgemoor District Council voted in November 2020 to permit residential construction on the site, subsequent to unsuccessful attempts to market the land exclusively for commercial purposes. The legal documentation pertaining to the site was not finalized until May 2023, at which point “a range of commercial risks” associated with the development had surfaced. Consequently, the owners proceeded to sell the property to Homes England, an entity that plans to dismantle the current structures prior to reselling the site to another developer. The plans specified that the extra care units, designed for individuals aged 55 and over, would serve those who are largely self-sufficient but desire access to shared amenities. Furthermore, five “live and work units” are planned to accommodate self-employed individuals who prefer to conduct their work from home, it was noted. The proposals also detailed the construction of a new attenuation pond and a foul water pumping station at the southern boundary of the site, intended to safeguard the residences, commercial establishments, and the A371 from localized flooding. Councillor Bob Filmer, who represents the adjacent Brent division, commented: “There was a great deal of interest in this site when it first came forward. The tweaks that have been made appear to be improvements. I’m glad to see the drainage strategy has moved to an attenuation pond rather than tanks under the ground. Maintenance of that is going to be so much more sensible going forward. It seems to me this is a good use of a former brownfield site, bringing in both residential and commercial use.” For updates, follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Story ideas can be submitted via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for content on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.