PA MediaMore than 600 homes and a primary school has been approved on one of Prince William’s estates.
The Duchy of Cornwall, along with C G Fry and Son Ltd, will build 620 new homes on the Mid Somerset Showground in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, and also build a care home and nursery.
Councillors have now voted to approve the plans ensuring river pollution is mitigated after Somerset Council approved the application in September 2025.
As many as 12,000 homes are currently blocked from being built across Somerset after a court ruling because of high levels of phosphate in water courses, including Shepton Mallet.
Councillors were asked to re-approve the application to include the newly worded conditions on phosphates today.
When the application was first being considered in September 2025, it was decided the applicants needed to prove they bought enough credits to mitigate pollution levels in the Somerset Levels, under a process called a reservation notice.
The two applicants first bid to build the development in July 2018, and were given outline planning permission in 2025.
A separate application to approve the scale, layout, appearance and landscaping of the development is expected to be submitted this year.
Provision has been made for the Mid Somerset Show on land to the south which will continue to be hosted there, according to the council.
GoogleThe site is designed to deliver the bulk of Shepton Mallet’s new housing over a 10-year period and of the 620 new homes, 30% will be affordable.
Additional contributions of nearly £258,000 will be made to special needs schooling elsewhere in the Shepton area and £276,000 will go to the Grove House Surgery and the Park Medical Practice.
New walking and cycling links will be provided throughout the site, with a new pedestrian crossing over the A371 and about £25,000 being provided for improvements to the Strawberry Line or other local active travel projects.
Construction of the first homes could begin in 2027.
Additional reporting by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

