Amended drainage plans for the first 109 homes at Oakmere Rise, north of Yeovil’s A359 Mudford Road, have been approved despite continuing flood concerns from Mudford and other downstream communities.
Somerset Council’s planning committee voted seven to three in favour of the plans, with one councillor abstaining, after approximately two hours of debate. The decision allows the first phase of the development to proceed with a different drainage design from the one included in the original outline permission.
How the Oakmere Rise drainage scheme will change
The constructed wetlands originally proposed for the development will be removed and replaced by attenuation ponds and reed-beds. Together, these features will form part of a sustainable urban drainage system, known as SUDS.
Land originally 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 was intended to provide a substantial green buffer and help 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 detailed plans for the first phase.
Why Mudford and nearby villages remain concerned
Groups representing Ashington, Chilton Cantelo and Mudford have questioned whether the replacement drainage system will provide the same flood storage and protection as the cascading wetlands included 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 being intended only for phosphate control. The group also questioned how resilient downstream communities would be as construction continues and additional 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 accounted for. That finding led to calls for the combined effect of other developments sending water into the same drainage system to be considered.
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 that an unsafe scheme would not be approved.
More Oakmere Rise decisions expected
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 highlighted a projected 20% biodiversity net gain, described as twice the minimum requirement. He also said mechanical pumps for an artificial wetland would have a greater carbon footprint than passive SUDS.
Decisions on the detailed first phase and a separate application intended to speed up construction of a new crossroads for the estate’s main access are expected before Christmas.
Nearby communities are continuing to scrutinise how the revised drainage system performs as Oakmere Rise is built.