By Harry Mottram: A development firm have put in an application for outline planning permission for 56 new homes near Axbridge at the former former yogurt factory site on the A371. The site is in Cheddar between the former St Michael’s Cheshire Homes and the MFG Cheddar Service Station at the ‘Magic Roundabout.’ The application has an interesting history – back in 2018 Yeo Valley Farm and Holt Farms Limited wanted to build 100 homes plus a care home, nursery and mini industrial estate. Eventually Sedgemoor District Council ‘s development committee gave it the green light but legal problems led to delays and in 2023 Homes England acquired the site after Sedgemoor was succeeded by Somerset Council who approved the plans in 2024. Enter Woodstock Homes (Construction) Limited who have teamed up with Homes England who have put in planning requests for 56 homes this month while sister partner LNT Care Developments Limited have asked to build the care home.
Local Democracy Reporter Daniel Mumby reported: “The homes will range from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom houses – but due to the marginal viability of the brownfield site, only eight of the properties will be affordable.” Obviously only eight affordable homes is a low percentage from 56 but there will be 161 parking spaces and the original plan for small offices and light industrial units plus the nursery are also included. It is expected a planning decision will be made by Christmas – but if it goes ahead with construction next year that will eventually mean more traffic on the congested area around the entrance to Cheddar Woods Resort and Spa.
Daniel also included this note: “A new active travel link will be provided at the south-eastern corner of the site, with pedestrians and cyclists being able to travel into Cheddar either by following the A371 or turning west to pick up the Strawberry Line at the entrance in Axbridge.”
Road closures
The lane linking Winscombe to Webbington called Barton Road is to be closed for work on water mains from 22-23 June, and Shipham Lane is closed today (15 June) for Open Reach work. You can check on local roadworks at this site: https://one.network/public
Lidl
The supermarket chain have applied in 2025 to construct a new retail grocery store on Upper New Road, Cheddar, close to Axbridge. A plan that has largely been welcomed due in part to Lidl’s reputation for lower food prices. However not everyone was in agreement due to the added congestion the supermarket would bring and the effect it could have on the existing businesses including the fuel station’s shop, the Axbridge Co-op, Tweentown’s store and Shipham’s village shop. The application is under consideration – and so far there is no date for a final decision by planners. For details visit the Somerset Council’s planning portal and use the application number 17/25/00051 and use Cheddar and Lidl as the key words on the menu. Visit https://www.somerset.gov.uk/planning-buildings-and-land/view-and-comment-on-a-planning-application/
Axbridge Event
Below is an open letter from Axbridge resident David Parkin about an event in Axbridge called: People’s Emergency Briefing screening in Axbridge
Dear All
I am writing to invite you to attend a local screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing film on the threats to British life from ongoing damage to nature and to our climate.
Axbridge Town Hall, Wednesday 8th July 2026, 7.30pm (open from 7pm)
The film features footage from last November’s National Emergency Briefing, which brought together leading UK experts in climate science, food security, health, economics, national security and nature.
It presents a clear, measured overview of how the climate and nature crisis is affecting everyday life in Britain – and what the evidence says about risks and responses.
The initiative is explicitly non-partisan, and is supported by a wide range of organisations including National Trust, Church of England, Exeter University, the Royal Meteorological Society, WWF, National Education Union, and many more.
Local people and institutions play a vital role in responding to these challenges. We can all help to reduce emissions across housing, transport, planning and infrastructure, and to strengthen local resilience in the face of increasing flood risk, heatwaves, food insecurity and wider systemic pressures.
The purpose of the Briefing is to support informed democratic discussion and ensure that national and local decision-makers, alongside the public, share a common understanding of the scale and urgency of the challenge.
Following the 50-minute film, there will be a 45-minute discussion on what this means for our community, including implications for local preparedness, resilience and long-term planning.
We would greatly value your attendance – whether to listen and contribute, or simply observe the film and discussion. Your presence would help to show how important this issue is to all of us in the community.
Please let us know if you are able to join us.
With best wishes,
David Parkin (Axbridge Climate Emergency Group)
davidhparkin@gmail.com 07974 969557
For details of the film visit https://www.nebriefing.org/the-film
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Axbridge Diary of Events
Some Axbridge dates coming up. Send Axbridge events to me and I’ll try to keep the list updated. Email: harryfmottram@gmail.com I’ll also post on my website at https://www.harrymottram.co.uk/diary/
Coming up is a Fun Day in the Square and lots of events at the Axe Vale Arts centre – check them out as for a small town Axbridge punches above its weight.
Harry Mottram
Note: I get asked this frequently so just to repeat I write up these stories from time to time out of personal interest – all the information is in the public domain – I put it together, so it makes sense to me. I am not paid – my main job is covering Bath for Bath Voice News and ICSM of Bridgwater which is about business insolvencies. I have lived in Old Church Road for over 25 years and am married to Linda – our four children went to the local state schools. I’ve always taken an interest in local affairs having worked as a journalist in Somerset for many years. More at at www.harrymottram.co.uk and social media on X as @harrythe spiv, Facebook, Blue Sky, LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads and God knows where else!
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