Somerset Council pushes rural affordable housing with Cannington council‑home plan

Somerset Council has signed a £7.5 million agreement with developer Strongvox Homes for a 160‑property estate on Brymore Way. If the scheme receives planning permission, the deal would deliver 48 new council‑owned homes in Cannington, adding to the council’s target of 580 council homes across Somerset by 2030, many of them in villages along the M5 corridor.

The council is also urging developers and housing associations to increase affordable housing in the county’s rural areas. About 12,500 households are registered on its Homefinder service, with roughly 20 % living in rural parishes. Recent milestones include 24 affordable‑rent homes completed in Martock, more than 100 affordable homes finished last year, and approvals for 1,600 affordable homes on 43 rural sites. Councillor Sarah Wakefield highlighted the importance of keeping local people close to families, jobs and services, while housing officer Wendy Lewis said the Cannington scheme will boost regeneration and inward investment.

Tilia Homes will provide the council homes on the Cannington site, and Strongvox will deliver the open‑market houses on the same development.