A rural Somerset pub will be expanded and revamped after plans for new homes on the adjoining land.

Grove Property (Charlton Adam) Ltd applied in December 2021 to build 35 new homes to the south of the Fox and Hounds pub on Broadway in the village of Charlton Adam, between Somerton and the busy A37.

The plans – which also include new facilities for the pub – were one of more than 50 major developments in the former South Somerset area which were delayed as a result of the ongoing phosphates crisis.

Somerset Council finally approved the proposals just before Christmas – meaning construction could get under way later in the year.

The site lies on the southern side of Broadway, around half a mile from the A37 between Yeovil and Shepton Mallet.

A total of 157 car parking spaces will be provided on site, with the access road onto Broadway separating the pub from its beer garden (though safe pedestrian access will be provided).

Of the 35 homes planned for the site, 13 will be affordable – exceeding the council's target of 35 per cent affordable housing for any new development of ten homes or more.

Permission to build 24 homes on the same site were refused by the council's regulation committee in October 2019; however, this decision was overturned following a successful appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.

Regarding the pub improvements, a spokesman for Boast Architects (representing the applicant) said: "The existing Fox and Hounds public house, a much-valued community facility, will be upgraded internally and enhanced with a new entrance, a replacement conservatory and a large multi-purpose space on the north side of the skittle alley to increase the overall floor area.

"The landscaping in the beer garden will be redesigned to improve the outside entertainment space and enhance the attractiveness of the public house."

Following the Dutch N court ruling (and the resulting legal advice from Natural England), any development within the Somerset Levels and Moors catchment area must include additional mitigation measures to prevent any new increase in phosphate levels – such as new wetlands, upgrades to waste water treatment plants or fallowing agricultural land (where phosphates are used in fertilisers).

In this instance, land to the east of the development site will be fallowed for the next five years, with woodland being planted throughout the site to more permanently off-set the new homes.

Wessex Water will also install a new pumping station within the site to reduce flood risk and alleviate pressure on the Somerton waste water treatment plant, located on Barpool Lane to the north of the town.

The developer will contribute nearly £78,000 towards local facilities as part of the construction process, comprising nearly £56,000 towards play areas and other youth facilities and just over £22,000 for new or improved playing pitches.

However, there will be no additional funding for the local Charlton Mackrell Primary School, with planning officer David Kenyon stating that there was currently sufficient capacity in light of falling pupil numbers in rural parts of the county.

He said: "Our forecasts continue to indicate there will be sufficient capacity in early years and primary settings to accommodate children expected from this development, so contributions will not be required for additional pupil places.

"The latest secondary pupil forecasts are also slightly lower than last year. "The site is in a sustainable location with access to a range of services and facilities. "There are no adverse impacts that would 'significantly and demonstrably' outweigh the benefits of providing up to 35 dwellings in this sustainable location."

Construction on the new homes and the improvements to the pub is expected to begin before the end of the year.