Former Yeovil cattle market could provide 100 new homes
Somerset Council recently launched the first round of public consultation on its new Somerset Local Plan.
The former cattle market in Yeovil town centre could be turned into up to 100 new homes if the site is taken forward under the new Somerset Local Plan.
Somerset Council recently launched the first round of public consultation on its new Somerset Local Plan, which will ultimately decide where new housing and employment sites are allocated up to 2045.
As part of the Local Plan process, the council has published the outcome of its housing and employment land availability assessment (HELAA), which identifies every site put forward during the ‘call for sites’ in early-2025 (which encouraged developers, promoters and landowners to submit sites for future development).
One of the sites included within the HELAA is the former cattle market south of the A30 Reckleford and Market Street – with local councillors indicating that the site could support up to 100 new properties.
Councillors Mike Hewitson and Oliver Patrick – who represent the Coker division near Yeovil – raised the issue in their most recent monthly newsletter to their constituents.
They said: “Councils are required to have up to date Local Plans in order to demonstrate how they are delivering central government housing targets for their area.
“The HELAA process sits as a first stage in the wider Local Plan site selection process. It does not allocate sites or grant them planning permission or planning status of any kind.”
The cattle market was included as one of the main regeneration sites within the Yeovil Refresh regeneration programme, introduced by South Somerset District Council and backed by £9.75m from the then-Conservative government’s future high streets fund.
Following the election of the current Labour government in July 2024, the programme was re-jigged to allow for the remaining funding to be focussed on the Glovers Walk site and several smaller developments in the town centre.
The cattle market element of the Yeovil Refresh programme was officially cancelled in August 2024, along with any planned improvements to the Poundland store at 72-74 Middle Street.
Messrs. Hewitson and Patrick added: “The owners of the cattle market have submitted their land for consideration in the Local Plan. They have indicated it could accommodate approximately 100 homes.
“Could we finally see this major brownfield site finally come forward for redevelopment?”
In their official assessment of the site, the council’s own planning officers said the cattle market was “potentially suitable” for inclusion within the Local Plan as a “regeneration site” (i.e. one where central government funding could be targeted to unlock new homes).
The officers added: “The site has been promoted for housing development and therefore is not considered available for economic development.
“The site is adjacent to multiple highways, so it is assumed that access could be taken from multiple points.
“The promoter has identified a few common constraints but anticipates that they can be overcome.”
To take part in the Somerset Local Plan consultation, visit www.somersetcouncil.citizenspace.com/planning/local-plan-scoping-consultation-2026/consultation/ before July 24.
A summary of the consultation responses will be published in early-November, with the second round of consultation (including more details of proposed development sites) expected to begin in September 2027.
The third and final round of public consultation is currently scheduled to be held in March 2028, after which the Local Plan will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate (which may hold additional public hearings if it is deemed to be necessary).
If all goes smoothly, the new Local Plan will be formally adopted on March 16, 2029.