Affordable homes expected to come to small Somerset village
Developers are building 140 homes in Templecombe
More affordable homes than expected could be delivered in a small Somerset village under a new deal with the prospective developer.
Gleeson Strategic Land Ltd. secured outline planning permission in November 2023 to deliver up to 140 homes and a community facility on Bowden Road at the southern edge of Templecombe, which lies deep in the Blackmore Vale not far from the Dorset border.
After the outline legal agreements were signed off in March 2025, Vistry Partnerships acquired the site and submitted revised proposals for the same number of homes in late-January 2026 – with a decision expected to be taken by Somerset Council before Christmas.
The developer has now confirmed that, if approval is granted, half of the new homes within the site will be affordable, as part of a wider partnership with the Abri housing association.
Access to the new homes will be achieved via a new junction on Bowden Road, near the junction with West Street, with a spine road running through the site to connect the houses with a possible community facility nearer the access point.
Wessex Water is currently installing a new water main at this junction, with roadworks remaining in place until September 18, according to the council’s official roadworks portal.
A pedestrian and cycling access will be created onto the busy A357 Combe Hill, leading to Henstridge and Wincanton, via an existing driveway – with this access also being available for emergency vehicles as and when required.
The community facility will be delivered separately to the residential development, and could take the form of a village hall or a new medical centre to replace the existing Templecombe Surgery (which local NHS official identified would need to expand or relocate as far back as 2020).
The site will also provide two children’s play areas, a community orchard and considerable green landscaping to provide a buffer between both the existing homes on Bowden Road and the open countryside south of the village.
Vistry will be delivering 314 new affordable homes in partnership with Abri across three sites in the south-west: 130 at the Fosseway site in the Hengrove area in Bristol, 114 at Locking Parklands in Weston-super-Mare (alongside additional investment from Homes England), and 70 at the Templecombe site.
This latter investment will see 50 per cent of the new homes at the site be affordable – far in excess of the 35 per cent normally required for any new development of ten homes or more within the former South Somerset area.
Susan Scholfield, regional managing director of Vistry Bristol, said: “These agreements mark another important milestone in our partnership with Abri, and will deliver 314 affordable homes across three key south west sites.
“From regenerating brownfield land in Bristol to supporting the next phases of Locking Parklands and creating a new mixed-tenure community in Templecombe, each development demonstrates the strength of partnership-led delivery and our shared commitment to providing high-quality homes where they are needed most.”
The new homes at Templecombe will be offered at a mixture of social rent, affordable rent and shared ownership in order to accurately meet local housing needs within the village.
Sally Ingham, director of development at Abri, said: “These homes will make a real difference for people across the south west, providing more opportunities for individuals and families to access affordable housing in communities where they can thrive.
“Through our partnership with Vistry, we’re helping to meet local housing need while creating places that support long-term well-being and opportunity.
“This commitment also supports our ambition to deliver 20,000 homes by 2036, ensuring more people have access to a safe, secure home.”
Like its neighbouring villages of Henstridge and Milborne Port, Templecombe has seen significant interest from housing developers over the last decade, with numerous greenfield sites being put forward.
Templecombe has seen particular pressure due to its railway station, with South Western Railway (SWR) running hourly services in each direction between London Waterloo and Exeter St. David’s – making the village attractive to potential commuters.
Tilia Homes recently completed construction on the Knights Meadows estate on the A357 Slades Hill north of the railway line, delivering 70 new homes along with an extension to the Thales facility (which serves as a major local employer).
Magna Housing submitted revised plans in September 2024 to deliver 49 low-cost homes north of West Street, with outline permission being granted at the third time of asking on the chosen site back in June 2020.
Plans for a further 60 homes east of the A357 High Street were refused in August 2020 – with the Planning Inspectorate subsequently upholding this refusal in July 2021 following an eight-day public inquiry.
The council is expected to make a decision on Vistry’s revised designs for the Bowden Road site before the end of the year.
Following recent changes to UK planning law, this decision is likely to be taken behind closed doors through the delegated powers of the council’s planning officers; however, the plans could come before the planning committee south if the two Blackmoor Vale division members and its chairman deem it to be necessary.