CASTLE CARY
LAND NORTH OF BURFITT ROAD, CASTLE CARY
WELCOME
Backhouse Housing is consulting the community of Ansford and Castle Cary on plans for a residential development of circa 60 new homes (including affordable housing) and areas of open space on land north of Burfitt Road, prior to the submission of a planning application in 2025.
On this website you will find details of the site, its constraints and opportunities, the emerging master plan and technical information relating to the site.
Please take your time to look through the proposals before submitting your comments via the questionnaire in the “Take the Survey” section. We value your local knowledge and welcome your feedback on the proposals. We are asking for comments to be submitted by 23:59 on the 4th August 2025.
THE SITE
The site is approximately 3.09 Ha in size and lies to the south of Ansford Hill, west of Lower Ansford and to the north/north-east of a recently completed first phase of development, delivered by Backhouse. It is bound by a row of trees to the north which provide a screened boundary, housing to the east and west, and an orchard and open field to the south, for which an application has recently been permitted for a housing development of 29 dwellings. Consent has also been granted for a new residential development of 200 dwellings to the north of Ansford Hill.
The site slopes downwards from east to west and there is a hedgerow which intersects the site.
Ansford and Castle Cary has been identified as a sustainable settlement for growth and the site is located within an identified Direction of Growth within the Local Plan.
TECHNICAL WORK
Transport
Active Travel
The development will connect to and enhance pedestrian and cycle infrastructure to encourage the uptake of sustainable travel in this accessible location. The proposal will deliver a pedestrian link into Lockett Drive to the west, to create permeability for pedestrians and cyclists through this part of Castle Cary.
The site is in a suitable location for development with accessibility to a multitude of everyday facilities available within Ansford and Castle Cary, including education, retail, employment and leisure uses. Ansford and Castle Cary Train Station can be accessed via a Public Right of Way (PRoW). The delivery of a pedestrian crossing across Ansford Hill is being considered as part of the proposed development.
Access
The existing access serving the residential development onto Station Road is sufficiently wide to accommodate the additional development proposed and the appointed highways consultant has considered the proposed vehicular trip rates and accessibility of the site and considers access to be acceptable, and most importantly, safe.
Parking
An appropriate number of car parking spaces will be provided to ensure that residents and visitors can park their cars on site without overspill to adjacent streets.
Flood Risk and Drainage
The site lies entirely within Flood Zone 1 and is therefore at a low risk of flooding.
With respect to surface water, there is a low risk across the site. The lowest point of the site is to the west, therefore an attenuation basin will be provided in this location.
The site lies within the Somerset Levels and Moors Ramsar Zone and as such, a phosphates assessment will be undertaken to support any forthcoming application and shows how adverse impacts from increased nutrients flowing into the Levels will be avoided.
Landscape and Ecology
Landscape
A Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) will be undertaken to support any forthcoming planning application, it will consider key viewpoints from the surrounding area and the impacts of the scheme. The initial landscape work undertaken has informed the master plan that is now presented and keeps the higher parts of the site free from development which will reduce the development’s impact in longer distance views and provide an attractive outlook from the pubic open space proposed here.
Ecology
The development proposals present an opportunity to incorporate tree planting throughout the site to provide a betterment of the current position.
In terms of good place-making, along with biodiversity connectivity, it is proposed to deliver housing within the western part of the site and provide a replacement orchard in the eastern half of the land. This will be enhanced significantly to provide a high-quality habitat, a dark corridor and improved habitat connectivity, particularly for bats.
Biodiversity Net Gain
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is a way of creating and improving natural habitats. BNG makes sure
development has a measurably positive impact on biodiversity, compared to what was there before development occurred.
BNG became mandatory from February 2024. Developers must now deliver a BNG of 10%. This
means that a development will result in more, or better quality, natural habitat than that currently present on site.
Our landscape and ecological consultants are working together to ensure that at the time of a planning application submission we can ensure that we comply with these requirements.
This is likely to be achieved by providing new trees, hedgerows and other eco-friendly landscaping throughout the site and mainly in the eastern half of the site which will be enhanced to provide a high-quality habitat. Off-site land may also be required to be improved and enhanced to ensure the 10% net gain is met.
Heritage
Grade II* Listed St Andrew’s Church lies to the south-east of the site. The church is not visible from the site given the topography of the land, except from one area near to the southern boundary. A heritage consultant has been instructed to advise on the scheme and prepare a Heritage Impact Assessment that will support the application in due course.
Energy and Sustainability
Sustainability is at the heart of this development. Backhouse are passionate about providing high-quality housing, all homes on the development will be designed to be low-carbon homes to meet the needs of modern-day living.
THE VISION
Our vision is for a high-quality residential development on the site which integrates with the existing and planned development that surrounds it. We will respect, preserve and enhance Castle Cary and Ansford’s unique character. The design integrates contemporary thinking on well-designed places and our masterplan provides an attractive robust layout which improves the connectivity of this exciting new part of the neighbourhood. The masterplan will be locally distinctive, providing high-quality visual aspects that will complement both Ansford and Castle Cary’s character.
THE PROPOSALS
The proposals will include:
· Circa 60 homes including:
- 35% Affordable housing
- A mix of 2, 3 and 4-bedroom properties
· Extensive high quality public open space that will seek to reintroduce public orchards that were once an important feature of the area
· Vehicular access off Burfitt Road
· Appropriate number of residents’ car parking spaces
· Visitors’ car parking spaces
· Improved pedestrian/cycle connectivity
· Ecological and biodiversity enhancements
· Energy efficient homes with renewable energy generation
It is anticipated that the appearance of the homes themselves would be similar to the adjacent first phase of the scheme, which created a modern design that respects the local vernacular.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Have your Say!
We consider that the proposals for land north of Burfitt Road are an exciting prospect which can support and integrate well with the existing community of Ansford and Castle Cary by providing a mix of
homes.
Once you've had a read of all of our information, we would be grateful if you could fill out the following questionnaire via the link - your views are important to us and we hope that you will positively engage with us to help further shape the proposals for this scheme
If you are aware of anyone that struggles to use the internet, please get in touch via email or phone and we will issue hard copies of the consultation details directly to them.
If you require the information in any other format, please also get in touch.
The closing date for comments to be made is the 4th August 2025 - we would be grateful if you could provide your thoughts before this date in order to help us finalise the proposals.
If you would prefer, contact us via email or letter on the details provided below:
Grass Roots Planning
Suites 9 & 10, Bristol North Baths
98 Gloucester Road
Bristol
BS7 8BN
e: enquiries@grassroots-planning.co.uk
t: 0117 930 0413