Amended drainage plans for the first 109 homes at Oakmere Rise, north of Yeovil’s A359 Mudford Road, have been approved despite continuing concerns about flood protection downstream.
Somerset Council’s planning committee voted seven to three in favour of the proposals, with one councillor abstaining, after about two hours of debate. The decision allows the first phase of the development to proceed with a drainage design different from the system included in the original outline permission.
What is changing at Oakmere Rise?
The constructed wetlands originally proposed for the development will be removed. They will be replaced by attenuation ponds and reed-beds forming part of a sustainable urban drainage system, known as SUDS.
Land intended for the wetlands is due to become public open space. The treatment wetland had been planned for the northern edge of the site, where it would have created a substantial green buffer and helped manage phosphate levels affecting the Somerset Levels and Moors.
Oakmere Rise is being developed on the Mudford Sock site. Yeovil LVA LLP secured outline planning permission on appeal in March 2024 for 252 homes. The land was later sold to Bloor Homes South West, which submitted the detailed plans for the first phase.
Why are downstream communities concerned?
Groups representing Ashington, Chilton Cantelo and Mudford questioned whether the replacement drainage system would provide the same flood storage and protection as the cascading wetlands in the original plans.
The 3 Villages Flood Group said the planning inspector had viewed the wetlands as having a wider flood-mitigation role, rather than treating them solely as a way to control phosphate. The group also raised concerns about the resilience of downstream communities while construction continues and extra water enters the shared drainage network.
Monitoring by the Yeovil Community Rivers Trust found rainfall near the site was approximately 37% higher than the developer’s models had allowed for. That prompted calls for the combined effect of other developments sending water into the same drainage system to be assessed.
During the committee discussion, Councillor Stephen Page, the Liberal Democrat representative for Somerton, asked whether the revised arrangements could create health or safety risks, particularly for children living on the estate. Planning officer Dawn de Vries told the committee,
“an unsafe scheme would not be approved”
What happens next?
Councillors Mike Stanton and Oliver Patrick supported the amended plans. Stanton said the replacement system was likely to be more environmentally friendly and visually appealing. Patrick pointed to a projected 20% biodiversity net gain, described as twice the minimum requirement, and said mechanical pumps for an artificial wetland would have a greater carbon footprint than passive SUDS.
Further decisions are expected before Christmas on the detailed first phase and on a separate application intended to speed up construction of a new crossroads for the estate’s main access.
Nearby communities are continuing to scrutinise how the revised drainage system performs as Oakmere Rise is built.