Amended drainage plans for the first 109 homes at Oakmere Rise, north of Yeovil’s A359 Mudford Road, have been approved despite continuing concerns from downstream communities about flooding, biodiversity and pressure on the River Yeo catchment.
Somerset Council’s planning committee voted seven to three in favour of the proposals, with one councillor abstaining, after around two hours of debate. The decision allows the first phase of the development to proceed with a drainage design different from the system approved under the original outline permission.
How the drainage design will change
The constructed wetlands originally planned for the site will be replaced by attenuation ponds and reed-beds. Together, these features will form part of a sustainable urban drainage system, commonly known as SUDS.
Land previously reserved for the wetlands is expected to become public open space. The treatment wetland had been proposed on the northern edge of Oakmere Rise, where it would have provided a substantial green buffer and helped manage phosphate levels affecting the Somerset Levels and Moors.
The housing scheme is being built on the former Mudford Sock site. Yeovil LVA LLP secured outline planning permission on appeal in March 2024 for 252 homes. The site was later sold to Bloor Homes South West, which submitted the detailed proposals for the first phase.
Flood and construction concerns
Representatives from Ashington, Chilton Cantelo and Mudford questioned whether the replacement system would 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 treating them only as a way to control phosphate. The group also raised concerns about the resilience of downstream communities while construction is under way, when additional water could enter the shared drainage network.
Monitoring by the Yeovil Community Rivers Trust found rainfall near the site was approximately 37% higher than allowed for in the developer’s models. This prompted calls for the combined effect of other developments sending water into the same drainage system to be assessed.
During the committee meeting, 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 councillors that an unsafe scheme would not be approved.
Further Oakmere Rise decisions expected
Councillors Mike Stanton and Oliver Patrick supported the amended plans. Mr Stanton said the replacement system was likely to be more environmentally friendly and visually appealing.
Mr Patrick pointed to 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.
Further decisions are expected before Christmas on the detailed plans for the first phase and on a separate application intended to speed up construction of a new crossroads serving the estate’s main access.
Nearby communities are continuing to scrutinise how the revised drainage system performs as Oakmere Rise is built.