PLANS for 46 new homes to be built in Westonzoyland have been submitted this week.

The homes, planned for land off Liney Road, would be a significant development for the village which has been designated as a key rural settlement by Sedgemoor District Council.

Approximately 18 of the 46 homes identified would be affordable housing according the application.

Jillings Heynes Planning Ltd, which has put together the application on the behalf of a Mr and Mrs Shorthouse, says they have conducted community consultation and believe the site will be beneficial to the area.

The site lies on the eastern edge the existing built up area for the village with housing on the western side of Liney Road and a few houses on the eastern side, both north and south of the site.

The site is within ten minutes walk of the community hall, recreation ground, primary school, church and The Sedgemoor Inn and the developers say the new population would see around 300 additional vehicle journeys between 7am and 7pm each day.

"Even in peak times there would be around one extra vehicle every two minutes. This level of trip generation is not therefore considered likely to result in any significant detriment to the operation of the local road network," the application states.

An archaeological assessment did unearth a 'crouched inhumation' which is likely to date back to the iron age, however the bulk of the site was of 'limited interest'.

A total of 170 people attended a drop-in community consultation at the Westonzoyland Village Hall in May.

Of the 65 people that filled in a survey, 62 per cent said they supported the proposals.

There was a general acceptance the Westonzoyland needs more affordable housing but residents stated that these should go to local people.

The application is available to view now on Sedgemoor District Council's website by searching the application 53/17/00016.