More than 300 homes could be built across three sites on the southern edge of Frome under revised proposals by developers.

Mendip District Council allocated adjacent three sites in the south of Frome for development in its Local Plan, stretching from Little Keyford Lane to either side of the B3092 The Mount.

Wainhomes previously put forward plans for 70 homes on the first of these sites, to the east of Little Keyford Lane, which the council is currently deliberating.

Now David Wilson Homes has submitted revised plans for 255 homes across the other two sites, bringing the expected total to 325 properties.

Under the proposals, Wainhomes will deliver 70 homes with access from Little Keyford Lane, with green space and an attenuation pond being provided at the south-eastern corner of the site.

This development's spine road will will connect up to the David Wilson Homes site on the western side of The Mount, providing a route between the two main roads in and out of Frome for each housing estate.

The site on the western site of The Mount will provide 131 homes, with a further attenuation pond and green space at its southern edge.

The final parcel of land, on the eastern side of The Mount, will provide 124 homes, with the access road being staggered to the south of the western development to prevent congestion or crashes.

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The developers said delivering a new roundabout on the B3092 to connect these latter two sites would result in greater damage to the natural environment than a staggered junction.

A spokesman for Pegasus Planning Group (representing the applicants): "While there had been some discussion of a roundabout from the B3092, the land take and lighting requirements for such an access would have required the removal of large amounts of existing green infrastructure and diminished the value of the remaining infrastructure for important species (e.g. bats).

"Furthermore, land levels at potential locations along the B3092 vary considerably and would require significant earthworks to be implemented."

Highways England, which is responsible for maintaining England's motorways and major A-roads, has stated that any development across these three sites should not be allowed to proceed without significant improvements to the nearby A36, which connects Frome to Bath.

Planning manager Sally Parish said: "Without highway mitigation, the traffic impact of these Local Plan allocations would result in significant congestion on the strategic road network at the A36 Beckington and White Row roundabouts.

"On the basis of this assessment, we advised that mitigation is likely to be required at both roundabouts in order to ensure that the cumulative impacts of development on the strategic road network is not severe."

Each of the three developments is expected to comply with the council's policy that 30 per cent of any new major development (i.e. ten homes or more) shlould be affordable homes – the equivalent of 98 properties across the three sites.

These proposals come just seven months after the council approved a development of 235 homes and commercial units either side of Sandys Hill Lane, just a short distance to the west.

Plans for a further 300 homes and commercial units on the Saxonvale brownfield site in the town centre were approved by the council's planning board on Thursday evening (January 28).

The council is expected to make decisions on all three Little Keyford applications later in the year.