Plans for a development of 40 homes in Leigh-on-Mendip, that would also have seen a new school field and car park being created, have been refused.

An application for outline planning permission with some matters reserved (access considered) for the building of up to 40 dwellings and provision of school playing field and car park on land at Quarry Lane, Leigh-on-Mendip, had been submitted to Mendip District Council by T and A Land Associates Ltd.

The plans entailed the construction of 40 homes to the north of Leigh-upon-Mendip First School, with a playing field and 30 car parking spaces separating the school and new homes.

Of the 40 homes, 12 would have been classed as affordable, and a new footpath link to an existing public right of way to the west of the site was proposed.

However, Mendip have turned down the plans, citing the potential impact on the neighbouring Grade I listed Church of St Giles as outweighing the benefits of the extra housing.

The planning officer's report said: "The site is dominated by residential units, which will fundamentally change the relationship that the church has with its countryside setting.

"Attempts have been made to open-up the space around the church - however, this does not address the loss of the rural setting as the arrangement it creates is a formal urbanised character within the area.

"Historic England and the conservation officer have raised significant concerns and objections to the proposed loss of the relationship of the church with its rural setting.

"As the church is Grade I listed, the local planning authority must ensure that when considering the impact of a proposed development on the significance of a designated heritage asset, great weight should be given to the asset's conservation.

"The current proposals do not demonstrate that the positive attributes of the asset's setting would be enhanced or better revealed by the development.

"The benefits of bringing forward housing supply (including affordable housing) and the economic and social benefits for the wider community (including the provision of new school playing field and car park) do not in this case significantly and demonstrably outweigh the adverse harm to the setting of the Grade I listed Church of St Giles."

Planning applications in the Shepton Mallet area that have been submitted to Mendip District Council this week include:

Erection of a new entrance porch, installation of a mezzanine gallery, replace window with door, infill window, lowering of ground floor, secondary glazing, two rooflights and photovoltaic panels for ancillary use, holiday use and short-term let accommodation at Bay Tree Cottage, Old School House, Church Street, Croscombe, has been applied for by Mr and Mrs J Boot.

Application for approval of details reserved by conditions 3 (Joinery Details), 4 (Materials), 5 (Sample Panel), 6 (Ducts, Pipes, Rainwater Goods) and 14 (Tree Protection Plan) on planning consent 2018/3021/FUL at Tashmere, 33 Cowl Street, Shepton Mallet, has been made by Mr Sonny Bridgeman.

Application for approval of details reserved by conditions 3 (joinery details, 5 (sample panel-roofing), 7 (ducts, pipes and rainwater goods) on planning consent 2020/0906/HSE at Hornblotton Mill, Church Lane, Alford, has been made by Mr and Mrs C Horn.

Installation of a new pole and erect an overhead electricity line across road on land at Gunnings Lane, Upton Noble, is wanted by Mr Anton Burns.

Request for Screening Opinion: proposed concrete products factory at Trinidad Works, Haygrove Lane, Wanstrow, has been made by PORR UK Ltd.

Application for a non-material amendment to permission 2020/1654/VRC for the regularisation of parking provisions on land at Bowlish Lane, Shepton Mallet, has been made by Mr K Ladhu.

Planning applications in the Shepton Mallet area that have been decided by Mendip District Council this week include:

Erection of 4930sqm of use Class E (former B1), B2 and B8 floorspace and conversion of workshop to form 70sqm office; partial infilling of quarry to create a level development platform at Barns Close Quarry, Quarry Lane, Leigh-on-Mendip, has been withdrawn.

Construction of extension on west elevation for B8 storage use on land at Lower Westholme Road, Pilton, by Mr Andrew Hill has been approved.

Application for approval of details reserved by conditions 3/part (external materials), 4 (external attachments), 5 (external lighting), 6 (hard and soft landscaping), 11 (litter bins and plaza furniture) and 12 (plaza management plan) on planning consent 2018/0254/FUL at land south of 28 Peter Street Rooms, Peter Street, Shepton Mallet, by Theatrum Developments Ltd has been refused.

Erection of single storey rear extension and associated external works at Sunnybank, Weymouth Road, Evercreech, by Mr Neil Shack has been approved.

Erection of a single storey rear extension and loft conversion to include new dormer, demolition of existing porch to be replaced by extended porch; new timber windows and the addition of a solar car port and arbour to front garden at 4 Coronation Terrace, High Street, Oakhill, by Mrs S Pennyfather has been approved.

Application for a non-material amendment to permission 2019/2296/FUL for the building to be steel frame construction with box profile sheeting on three sides to match the approved roof box profile at Mendip Golf Club, Golf Links Lane, Ashwick, by Mr Stuart Disney has been approved.

Single storey rear extension at Springfield, Station Road, Wanstrow, by Mrs J Kerr has been approved.

Relocation of an agricultural barn at Brook Hall, Leighton Lane, Evercreech, by Mr Simon Heal has been approved.

T1 beech (tree identified as T2 on TPO M1187) - crown lift to consistent lines of 4m, prune lateral growth in lower crown back by 2m to growth points to balance form at 1 Pines Close, Chilcompton, by Mr Hughes has been approved.

Proposed installation of two 367mm x 63mm x 41mm antenna, one 391mm x 222mm dish, and one 189mm x 125mm dish supported by two 48.3mm x 5.1mm x 2,000mm alloy support poles including one 550mm x 320mm x 420mm cabinet at White House Post Box to Orchards, Alhampton, by Adam Goodman has been approved.

Erection of open fronted summerhouse to north side of garden at 14 Nightingale Grove, Shepton Mallet, by Mr Philip Stevens has been approved.

Application for approval of details reserved by conditions 5 (bat boxes) on planning consent 2016/2088/FUL at Oakwood Farm, Strap Lane, North Brewham, by Mr John Ewins has been approved.

Application for approval of details reserved by conditions 4 (external joinery and cladding), 5 (landscape scheme) on planning consent 2018/1392/FUL at Mendip View, Leigh Road, Leigh-on-Mendip, by Miss N Shaw has been approved.