Councillors have given the green light to a major housing development on Prince William's Duchy of Cornwall estate, with 620 new homes set to be constructed at the Mid Somerset Showground in Shepton Mallet.
The scheme, a joint venture between the Duchy and developer C G Fry and Son Ltd, will also deliver a new primary school for the Somerset town.
Beyond the residential properties and educational facilities, the approved plans incorporate a care home and nursery on the site.
Somerset Council members voted to approve the development after ensuring appropriate measures were in place to address river pollution concerns in the area.
Councillors have given the green light to a major housing development on Prince William's Duchy of Cornwall estate, with 620 new homes set to be constructed at the Mid Somerset Showground in Shepton Mallet.
|GETTY
The approval follows an earlier decision by Somerset Council in September 2025, with councillors asked to re-endorse the application with updated conditions regarding phosphate levels in local watercourses.
High phosphate concentrations in rivers have blocked approximately 12,000 homes from being built across the county following a court ruling, affecting Shepton Mallet among other areas.
Developers were required to demonstrate they had purchased sufficient credits to offset pollution in the Somerset Levels through a reservation notice process.
The Duchy and C G Fry and Son Ltd initially submitted their bid for the site in July 2018, receiving outline planning permission in 2025.
The Duchy and C G Fry and Son Ltd initially submitted their bid for the site in July 2018, receiving outline planning permission in 2025.
|GETTY
Work on the first properties could commence in 2027, with 30 per cent of the 620 homes designated as affordable housing.
The development will bring substantial financial contributions to local services, with nearly £258,000 allocated for special needs education provision elsewhere in the Shepton area.
Local healthcare will also benefit, with £276,000 directed towards Grove House Surgery and Park Medical Practice.
New pedestrian and cycling routes are planned throughout the site, including a crossing over the A371, while roughly £25,000 has been earmarked for enhancements to the Strawberry Line or other active travel initiatives nearby.
The Mid Somerset Show will continue at its traditional location, with provision made on land to the south of the development site.
A further planning application covering the detailed design, scale and landscaping is anticipated later this year.
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter