New business units can be constructed a stone's throw from a Glastonbury school following a successful appeal.

Hui Yang applied in December 2024 for permission to erect six commercial units (including a food and drink outlet and a fitness centre) on agricultural land south of the A361 Edgarley Road between Mollens Farm and Millfield Preparatory School.

Somerset Council refused permission in November 2025, arguing it would have "an unjustified urbanising effect" on the local area and impact views from the nearby Glastonbury Tor.

But the Planning Inspectorate has now reversed this decision, meaning construction on the new units could begin shortly after Christmas.

The new Dutch barn-esque units provided a total of 862 sq m of employment space, with a new access road being created near the existing farm entrance and 18 car parking spaces being provided within the site.

The Yang family claimed there had been "strong outside interest" from businesses in this site, with one unit expected to be occupied by the family's own electrical business.

In all, it is anticipated that up to 30 full-time and eight part-time jobs will be created as a result of this development.

Under the Mendip Local Plan Part I (which was ratified in 2014), development in open countryside can only be permitted where it "benefits economic activity or extends the range of facilities available to the local communities".

Planning inspector H. Smith visited the site on August 25 and published their final ruling before the council's planning committee east (which handles major applications within the former Mendip area) met in Shepton Mallet on Tuesday afternoon (October 6).

They ruled that the tests within the Local Plan Part I were met, arguing it would "help to support the vitality and sustainability of the rural area" and "contribute to supporting business growth in a rural location".

Regarding the impact on Glastonbury Tor (and the Grade I listed St. Michael's Tower which sits atop it), they said: "The proposal's Dutch barn-style form, featuring a curved roof structure and an uncomplicated building design, would reflect agricultural buildings found within the surrounding rural area.

"Furthermore, the arrangement of a lower single-storey element to the front and a taller two-storey element to the rear would reduce the perceived scale of the development and help integrate it appropriately with its surroundings.

"As a result, the overall height, massing and scale of the buildings would sit comfortably within the existing landscape and would not appear as incongruous or visually dominant features."

The inspector also noted that the site was already well-screened, both from the school and the highways, by mature trees and hedgerows, further reducing its visual impact.

They added: "While some adverse visual effects would arise from the proposed access driveway and areas of hardstanding, these elements would be softened by the proposed landscaping and planting.

"The proposal would result in a change to the area, but the scale of the change and its spatial relationship to the town, and to the Tor and the Tower, would neither erode their imposing dominance nor detract from the cultural and spiritual importance and experiences that they give to the area."

Glastonbury lies within the River Brue catchment area, meaning that any new development must provide additional mitigation to prevent any net increase in phosphates on the Somerset Levels and Moors.

The inspector concurred with Natural England that the proposal would not lead to a significant increase in phosphates since it would predominantly employ local residents, making it "unlikely that the proposed development would pose a risk" to ecology and biodiversity.

They concluded: "I have found no conflict with the relevant development plan policies and thus there is no conflict with the development plan as a whole.

"The proposal constitutes a sustainable form of development."

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