Plans for 40 new homes in a small Somerset village have been thrown out over fears they will cause "significant harm" to the landscape and local heritage.

T. & A. Land Associates applied in September 2020 to build the homes on Quarry Lane in the village of Leigh-upon-Mendip, located roughly halfway between Frome, Radstock and Shepton Mallet.

Mendip District Council refused the plans in April 2021, arguing the development would have "a harmful urbanising impact" on the surrounding countryside.

The Frome-based developer lodged an appeal against the decision, resulting in a two-day public inquiry held in Shepton Mallet in early-October.

But the Planning Inspectorate has now ruled in the council's favour, arguing the benefits of the new homes and facilities were outweighed by the wider harm to the village.

The site of the proposed houses lies to the north of Leigh-upon-Mendip First School, as well as being only a short distance from Halecombe Quarry, which is operated by Tarmac.

In addition to the new homes, access from Quarry Lane, the plans entailed the creation of a new playing field and a car park with 30 new spaces for the school, with the homes being concentrated to the north.

Planning inspector Benjamin Webb visited the site in person on October 5, and published his decision on the Planning Inspectorate's website.

Mr Webb said the development would be "obviously and starkly at odds" with the established layout and character of the village, resulting in an "an insular and inward-looking estate… largely disengaged from the surrounding landscape".

He added: "The appellant further emphasises that the council's landscape assessment places the site within an area of 'low value'.

"Be that as it may, it does not alter my assessment above, or make any difference to the harm that I have identified in relation to the distinctive character of the village and its immediate setting."

Mr Webb added that the development would harm the setting and views of the medieval Church of St. Giles, which is grade one listed and features a "magnificent three-stage tower".

He said: "The visibility of the tower, and views of it within the surrounding setting, make a substantial contribution to the significance of the listed building.

"The scheme would complete the encirclement of the church by development. Any retained open space would thus inevitably be subordinate to the suburban layout of the development and would be of suburbanised character.

"While subsequent appreciation of the significance of the listed building would consequently be lacking in any sense of historic context, it would also be severely compromised by the presence of suburban housing, roads, a car park and fencing required to secure school facilities."

While Mr Webb said that the development would provide much-needed affordable homes, this was outweighed by the village's "limited level of services and public transport links", which would lead to many of the new residents commuting.

He concluded: "The development would give rise to a range of public benefits which individually attract no more than limited weight, and which would be incapable of delivery without causing significant harm to the character and appearance of the area.

"I conclude that the site is an inappropriate location for the proposed development given significant harm that it would cause to the character and appearance of the area."