A VAST area of farmland in Somerset could become the site of a major new housing development as plans have been submitted to the council.

Mr Peter Roberts has applied to build 54 new homes with open space, landscaping and all associated infrastructure at Underhill Farm in Midsomer Norton.

He also hopes to demolish two buildings as part of the plans - numbers 26 and 28 on Orchard Vale.

The proposed site comprises a field of approximately 2.27 hectares, near to Underhill Lane and Orchard Vale.

Speaking on access, the applicant wrote: "The site will be accessed via a simple priority T-junction arrangement from Orchard Vale with visibility splays appropriate to the 30mph speed limit.

"The junction will include a vehicle cross-over thereby affording pedestrians priority at the site access."

Although increased traffic is to be expected on Paulton Road, Northmead Road, and North Road, a traffic survey states said increase will be only 1.4 per cent.

The plans include mainly two-storey dwellings, as well as two blocks of apartments standing at 2.5 storeys tall.

If plans are approved, the development will be made up of six one-bedroom dwellings, ten two-bedroom dwellings, 26 three-bedroom dwellings, and 12 four-bedroom dwellings.

18 of the proposed homes will be affordable, including the two which are planned to replace the prospectively demolished homes on Orchard Vale.

It is proposed that the estate will feature an internal network of roads, private drives, parking spaces, as well as green spaces and benches.

For more information, search reference number 2024/0315/FUL on Somerset Council's online planning portal.

Public consultation on the plans is currently underway, and comments on the application are welcomed.