A proposal to build up to 24 new homes on farmland at Pear Tree Farm, on the eastern edge of Glastonbury, has been refused by Somerset Council.

The application, which sought outline planning permission for the development, including access details, was rejected on Monday, 13 January 2025. The decision marks the end of a proposal that aimed to transform 1.07 hectares of agricultural land along Old Wells Road into a residential estate.

The land, located next to properties developed by Elan Homes, was set to include a mix of housing, with 30% allocated as affordable units. However, the council decided the plans did not align with the current Local Plan policies, particularly regarding the site's location outside the development limits of Glastonbury.

The application outlined plans for the development of up to 24 homes, including affordable housing, with access via the existing Elan Homes estate road on Cullen Farm Road. Other aspects, such as layout, scale, and landscaping, were to be addressed at a later stage if the outline application had been approved.

Developers cited the council's lack of a five-year housing land supply as a key reason to approve the project. They argued that the homes would help address a significant housing shortfall in the district, with Glastonbury identified as one of the area's most sustainable settlements for expansion.

But Somerset Council ruled against the development. Concerns included the project's visual impact on the site's rural character and its potential to reduce the green space separating Glastonbury from the surrounding countryside.

Local objections highlighted fears about increased traffic on Old Wells Road and the potential strain on existing infrastructure, including schools and healthcare services.