LAND SOUTH OF BILBERRY AVENUE, CASTLE CARY
Introduction
A public consultation is being conducted by Corylus Planning and Environmental on behalf of Hannick Homes & Developments Ltd, to provide information and to seek the views of the local community concerning future proposals for 100 new homes at land south of Bilberry Avenue.
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The comments received from the local community will inform us in preparing a future planning application for the proposed development at this site.
The site is located to the north west of Castle Cary and comprises two fields with an area of approximately 4 hectares.
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Existing homes are situated on Compton Drive to the east of the site, and Pear Close, Juniper Road and Bilberry Avenue are to the north. An existing industrial site lies to the south west of the site.
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To the south, there is existing planning permission for residential development and an area safeguarded for a new primary school.
The Proposals
The Concept Masterplan has been informed by technical survey work having regard to a number of key existing site constraints and opportunities, including:
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Public Rights of Way (PRoW) crossing the site;
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Veteran trees, trees protected by Tree Preservation Order (TPO) and other boundary trees and vegetation are to be retained where possible; and
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An existing water main that passes through the site​
Opportunities and Constraints Plan
The Concept Masterplan shows how development could be delivered and bring benefits to the site, including:
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Up to 100 dwellings, including affordable homes;
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Open Space, including a children’s play area (Locally Equipped Area of Play);
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The PRoW will be retained and integrated into the development proposals;
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TPO trees and existing hedges largely retained to form green corridors and buffers;
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A footpath is proposed as part of the design that can provide a future pedestrian access for existing and future residents to the planned primary school.
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The proposed vehicular access is through the creation of two new roads linking from Bilberry Avenue and Juniper Road.​​
Concept Masterplan
Under the Environment Act (2021) the scheme is required to provide 10% Biodiversity Net Gain. This ecological enhancement will be delivered on-site where possible, typically through interventions including hedge and tree planting.
The Concept Masterplan has been designed to organise the site in a coherent and beneficial manner, delivering high quality housing alongside a sensitive landscape setting that responds positively to the site’s existing features by adding hedgerows and trees, which contributes to privacy for the proposed dwellings through additional planting. Overall, the arrangement of street and landscaping helps to define the site, soften its edges, and create an attractive place to live.
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The Concept Masterplan shows higher density housing toward the centre of the scheme and that lower density housing will be next to existing homes surrounding the site, which reduces impacts and softens the view from the dwellings north and east of the site along Juniper Road, Pear Close and Bilberry Avenue.
The layout also supports integration with surrounding development, particularly with dwellings to the north and east, and responds appropriately to the existing public footpaths. A proposed footpath also provides a possible future link south of the site to the school site, offering a safe and direct walking route for occupiers of existing and proposed homes to cut through the proposed development.
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The layout shows public open space to the north of the public right of way which will be a grassed area that provides drainage storage during infrequent flood events and which, for the majority of the time can be used as amenity space for existing and future residents. This area may also have capacity to contribute to biodiversity net gain with planting and provides a visual buffer between Pear Close and Blueberry Lane with the proposed layout. Details of this area are to be confirmed as part of a future formal planning application.
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A play area is proposed in the south east of the site and is accessible from Compton Drive for existing residents as well as for the use of the residents of the proposed dwellings. The arrangement of this area to the east of the site will act to reduce any visual impacts of the proposal’s relationship with the existing dwellings.
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A considered landscape strategy, including hedgerows and tree planting, reinforces the buffer of the landscape strategy and demonstrates this integration while ensuring privacy within the development and its surroundings.
Additional Information
Once consultation responses have been received and reviewed, our intention will be to prepare and submit a planning application to Somerset Council.
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The submission of the planning application at the site is scheduled for July 2026. The planning application will be supported by a range of technical evidence including ecology, heritage, transport, landscape, and drainage studies. There will be a requirement for the development to provide onsite affordable housing, biodiversity net gain and sustainable drainage. A statement summarising the consultation feedback received and how this has influenced the proposals will also be submitted as part of the planning application.
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Somerset Council will determine the planning application and carry out a formal 21-day public consultation as part of that process. You will therefore also have the future opportunity to comment on the proposals directly to the Council.
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In summary, the proposals aim to deliver a high-quality development of up to 100 homes that responds positively to the site’s opportunities and constraints and integrates successfully into the local community, providing public open space, alongside open market and affordable housing.
Next Steps
Your views on the proposed development are important to us and we would be grateful to receive your comments by:
15th June 2026
You can provide your comments using the feedback form below or by emailing: BilberryAvenueCastleCary@corylus-ltd.co.uk
The Old Dairy
Yanworth
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL54 3LQ
Address
"Have your say on new homes in Castle Cary"
