A planning application for homes to be built on the former railway line in Shepton Mallet has been altered to allow the Strawberry Line path to run through the site.

Green Quarry Ltd has submitted the plans to Mendip District Council for the building of dwellings with associated access on former West Shepton Railway land off The Sidings, Shepton Mallet.

The initial application had been for nine homes, but this has now been changed to four with the proposed Strawberry Line multi-user path (MUP) from Wells to Shepton Mallet connecting through the site.

Work recently started on the Strawberry Line path, which is intended to provide a car-free travel route between Clevedon and Evercreech, with different sections being added over time.

The revised application says the four homes will be a single terrace located in the first section of the site from The Sidings.

It said: "The embankment adjoining the Kent Bridge to the east is now left in place which in turn has seen a large reduction in excavation of the embankment.

"The Sidings access road will extend into the site continued as a shared MUP before progressing to the Strawberry Line – an exclusive 3m wide path beyond the development.

"The MUP will slope up to the Kent Bridge at a central position at the required 1 in 20 gradients, with the gentle rise starting 60m away from the bridge.

"From the top of the bridge, it will then in the future be able to join the remaining west embankment allowing the continuation of the path along the top of the west embankment up to the abutments of the B3136.

"Subject to a future bridge over the B3136 this will ensure connection to the recreation ground and then on to Wells so this represents a significant progress toward that end goal link. We have had discussions with Strawberry Line in this regard.

"An additional factor that can be considered now is the current Mendip planning application for the extension of the Strawberry Line cycle path past the Mendip offices to link The Sidings.

"We have had some dialogue with the organisers who had expressly requested that the MUP should head towards the top of the bridge and over the top of it rather than around the bottom of it as in the previous scheme. We have taken on board these comments when formulating this revision."

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

Application to vary condition 2 (Plans List) of planning approval 2020/0148/HSE (single storey extension to north and west elevations) at Higher Downside Farm, Windsor Hill Lane, Downside, Shepton Mallet, has been made by Mr Shaun Wolff.

Application for a certificate of lawful proposed development for replacement polycarbonate roofing to supalite tiled roof on conservatory at 25 Nightingale Grove, Shepton Mallet, has been made by Mr P Bowran.

Erection of single storey granny-annexe style bungalow following demolition of existing swimming pool and decking at Southwood, Common Lane, Holcombe, has been applied for by Mrs Elizabeth Ann Parfitt.

Application to determine if prior approval is required for a proposed agricultural building at Willow Bank Farm, Fosse Way, Lydford-on-Fosse, has been made by Mr W and Mrs S Cobden.

Applications for prior approval of telecommunications development for the installation of a telecommunications three-bay cabinet, a footway chamber and associated underground telecommunications ducting and electricity ducting at the Telecommunications Cabinets in St Peter's Road and The Mead, Shepton Mallet, have been made by Mr Sheward.

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

Erection of a two-bedroom dwellinghouse following the demolition of existing workshop at The Shed, land off Weymouth Road, Evercreech, by Mr Marcus Crofton has been approved.

Erection of lambing and farm storage shed and construction of access track on land south of Vale View, Pye Hill to Fosse Way, Pylle, by Mrs Jeannie Marsh has been refused.

Redevelopment of stables with a dwelling and detached car port on land next to 7 The Mead, Brewery Lane, Holcombe, by Mr Neil Scott has been refused.

Demolish existing stable and erect a new stable and storage buiding on land at Beacon View, Heckley Lane, Ashwick, by Mrs S Purchase has been approved.

Application for approval of details reserved by condition 3 (Foul Drainage) on planning consent 2018/2369/PAA (prior approval for a proposed change of use of agricultural building to a "larger" dwellinghouse Class C3 and for associated operational development) at Yew Tree Farm, New Road, Wraxall, by Mr and Mrs D Sage has been refused.

Works to a tree covered by a Preservation Order T1 - Taxus Baccata - lift the crown by around 2m and thin the crown by 25 per cent to 30 per cent at 2 Ivythorn Cottages, Prestleigh Hill, Prestleigh, by Mrs Clover Taylor have been approved.

Erection of first floor office extension at Peter Green (Haulage) Ltd, Leighton Lane Industrial Estate, Leighton Lane, Evercreech, by Mr Binks has been approved.

Erection of single storey garden room on north elevation (retrospective) at River Valley House, Pike Hill, Shepton Mallet, by Mr Kevin Young has been approved.

Demolition of rear existing single storey extension and construction of single storey rear extension at 61 Beech Avenue, Shepton Mallet, by Catherine Payton has been approved.