50 homes approved for Wells despite garden space concerns

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 30 Oct, 06:15 · Archive

Somerset Council has approved revised plans for 50 new homes on agricultural land at the edge of Wells.

Somerset Council has approved revised plans for the Cathedral View estate, a development of 50 new homes on agricultural land at New House Farm on the A371 Portway at the western edge of Wells. The site was sold to Wait Homes Severn Valley after Gleeson Strategic Land Ltd secured outline permission on appeal in August 2024. The company submitted revised plans in August 2025.

Of the 50 homes, 20 will be affordable housing. These comprise 15 units for social rent and five 'first homes'. The agricultural land lies between the Wells Touring Park and existing properties on the B3139 Elm Close, near the Priority Fields development and just south of the proposed new home of Wells Rugby Football Club.

Sole vehicular access will be from Portway. An existing footpath through the site will be upgraded to provide a safer connection to Elm Close, linking up with The Elms development by David Wilson Homes and a planned 47-house development near Gypsy Lane. Existing farm buildings will be demolished to make way for an attenuation pond and public open space at the site's northern end.

Councillors approved the plans despite raising concerns about the size of the gardens and how allocated green spaces would be managed in the future.

How it is being reported

• Somerset city getting 50 homes with 'scratty little gardens' as plans approvedHomes to be built on fields on the edge of the citySomersetLive · 30 Oct, 05:26
• 50 homes with "scratty little gardens" coming to Wells as plans approvedRevised plans for the Cathedral View estate on the A371 Portway have been approved by councillors, despite concerns about the lack of green spaceSomerset County Gazette · 28 Oct, 14:18

In this story: Somerset Council · Wait Homes Severn Valley · Gleeson Strategic Land Ltd · Wells · David Wilson Homes · Wells Rugby Football Club

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log