Residents of a small Somerset village are raging against plans to build dozens of new homes just up the road from a key redevelopment site.

Numerous efforts have been made to redevelop the former Greencore factory on the B3081 Prestleigh Road in Evercreech, near Shepton Mallet, which closed in December 2018.

In July 2022, Mendip District Council refused plans for 120 homes on the brownfield site for a second time, arguing the development would be "unsustainable" and did not provide sufficient employment space for the village.

M7 Planning Ltd. has now submitted plans for 56 homes and a new convenience store just up the road of the former factory – a move which has drawn the ire of local residents.

The proposed development site lies to the north of the former Greencore factory (which caught fire on January 4), on the eastern side of Prestleigh Road.

The new homes will be built at the southern end of the site nearest the existing properties on Maesdown Road, with a separate vehicular access for the convenience store and a footpath to link the two together.

Of the 56 homes planned for the site, 17 will be affordable – meeting the council's 30 per cent affordable housing target for any new development of ten homes or more.

The plans have received a uniformly negative reaction among Evercreech residents, who have made their feelings known on the council's official planning portal.

Daphne Roach said: "This is a greenfield site, and to develop this before addressing development of the unsightly and potentially dangerous brownfield site on Prestleigh Road is irresponsible – especially as the village has not previously been included in discussions about this new development.

"To site a village store so far from the centre of the village would not be practical, as people would be more likely to drive there rather than walk, reducing healthy opportunities and increasing pollution. All together, not a good idea."

Gordon Whitcombe concurred: "They [the applicant] have tried a sweetener by way of a convenience store when we have the Co-op.

"If the go-ahead for the factory site happens, God help us if this sees the light of day – the village cannot cope with more traffic.

"At the doctors' surgery, it will become impossible to get an appointment – you cannot get in now due to the number of people at present in the village, so if it was to be increased, the surgery would not cope."

NHS Somerset has also raised concerns about the capacity of Evercreech Surgery, asking for a contribution of nearly £32,500 towards providing additional health resources if the plans are approved.

Local resident Holly Stevens added: "The Greencore site should either be turned into green land or built upon appropriately – not by cramming as many houses with no parking, poor road infrastructure and no amenities in as small a space as possible. It's not all about money!

"This is just urban sprawl. If you want to build houses, do so in a town instead of turning villages into towns.

"This is green land and should remain so. The roads are not fit for purpose, the B3081 is dangerous.

"We lack doctors' spaces, dentistry places and school places. Is nothing sacred any more?!"

The district council – or its unitary successor – is expected to make a decision on the proposals in the early spring.