Plans for new homes and business units near the A303 have approved by councillors – in just 20 minutes.

Yeovil-based developer Abbey Manor Homes Ltd. has put forward outline plans to build up to 80 homes and employment space the north side of the A371 Lawrence Hill in Wincanton, near the town's McDonald's restaurant.

South Somerset District Council's regulation committee – which makes the final decisions on major planning applications – met virtually on Tuesday (April 20) to discuss the plans.

But having spent two hours on a previous application – for 252 new homes in Chard – the committee voted unanimously to approve the Wincanton plans with minimal scrutiny or debate.

Both of Wincanton's ward councillors – Nick Colbert and Colin Winder – have been vocal opponents of further housing in the town, including plans for 210 homes on the West Hill site which were refused in June 2020.

But neither councillor was present at the meeting on Tuesday (April 20) where the Lawrence Hill proposals were discussed.

Matt Frost of Boon Brown Architects (representing the applicant) said the proposals were "an important step to achieving the strategic growth of Wincanton in a sustainable manner, providing both housing and jobs."

The new business units will be built in seven blocks closest to the A371, with a new arm being created onto the existing roundabout which serves the town's McDonald's, KFC, Travelodge and the Wagtail pub.

The new homes will be built further north, with a pedestrian and cycling access being created onto Crocker Way – which can also be used by emergency vehicles as needed.

Decisions on a number of major planning applications in South Somerset have been delayed since mid-2020 due to the Dutch N court case, which concerned phosphate levels within the Somerset Levels and Moors.

But Wincanton is one of the few parts of the district which does not either lie within the Levels and Moors Ramsar site (an area protected by international law) or have watercourses which feed into it.

Councillor Tony Capozzoli spoke in favour of the plans, arguing any fine details regarding the layout and design of the homes could be sorted out at a later date.

He said: "It's quite well thought out. It will come back as reserved matters so I can't see a problem with that."

The committee voted unanimously to approve the outline plans within 20 minutes. Abbey Manor Homes has not indicated how soon a reserved matters application will come forward.