A controversial proposal to convert a Leigh Road property in Street into a seven-bedroom care home has been refused by Somerset Council, following concerns about overdevelopment and impact on the local neighbourhood.

The application, submitted by Mr Payne of Kindred Care Ltd, sought permission to convert 43 Leigh Road—currently a three-bedroom home with an attached hairdressing salon—into a residential care home with accommodation for seven residents and staffing levels of up to five people around the clock.

But planners rejected the bid on the grounds that the proposal would lead to an intensification of use that would be out of character with the surrounding area and potentially detrimental to residential amenity.

In a formal decision notice, Somerset Council said the change of use would not be "proportionate to the locality" and would harm the area's "residential character".

The site, which lies within the village's development limits, has direct access to Leigh Road and a rear exit onto Wraxhill Road. Plans had proposed five parking spaces at the front of the property.

Local residents had raised concerns about the increased pressure on on-street parking, road safety, and the suitability of the site for a high-dependency care facility in a quiet residential area.

While planning officers acknowledged that converting a home into a care facility could be acceptable in principle, they concluded the scale and staffing needs of the proposal were excessive for the site's location.

The application (ref: 2025/0058/FUL) was formally submitted in January.