ONE of the most controversial Wellington housing developments in decades has been officially proposed, with Christmas and the New Year eating into the 21 days allowed for the public to have their say on the plans.

Pegasus Group, using the trading name Wellington (LVA) LLP, wants to build up to 250 houses on 34 acres of fields to the south of the A38 Wellington Relief Road, which would double the population of Wellington Without parish.

The company has put forward the plans despite being told by planning officers as long as three years ago that it breached a slew of policies which protected the open countryside around the town.

Pegasus took pre-application advice from the then-district council which told the company the housing estate would intrude into the ‘high value character’ of the rural setting and significantly impact the landscape.

Both Wellington town and Wellington Without parish councils strongly opposed the plans and refused to meet to discuss it with Pegasus on the basis that no development would be acceptable.

MP Gideon Amos also said he was against it and encouraged other people to make their views known.

But Ben Kelly for Pegasus said Somerset Council was not meeting its legal requirement to have a five-year supply of housing land at a time when there was a significant shortage of homes.

Mr Kelly said planning rules were therefore ‘tilted’ in favour of approving proposals which came forward on land which had not been designated for development.

He said the benefits of the new housing outweighed any harm which might be caused to the open countryside character of the area.

Pegasus said its plans were ‘well-considered’ and offered a ‘balanced approach’ to the town’s growth which respected and enhanced the surrounding environment.

A spokesperson said: “By thoughtfully integrating blue and green infrastructure, the scheme goes beyond housing delivery to provide lasting benefits for both new and existing communities.

“Open green spaces, enhanced connectivity, and accessible recreational routes will help foster community interaction, support healthier lifestyles, and promote social cohesion.”

They said the development would ‘seamlessly integrate’ into the ‘broader fabric’ of Wellington and ‘enhance the overall quality of the environment’.

The spokesperson said: “This development aims to meet the growing demand for housing in Wellington while also creating a vibrant and sustainable neighbourhood that complements the existing town.

“It represents a forward-thinking approach to placemaking that priorities connectivity, environmental stewardship, and community well-being.

“By delivering new homes alongside high-quality public spaces and travel infrastructure, the scheme provides a positive and lasting legacy for Wellington's future.”

The new estate would have a mix of one, two, three, four, and five-bedroom homes which would be built on lower areas of the site.

The spokesperson said the development would provide a ‘new neighbourhood with a distinctive sense of place that builds on the identity of the town’.

The company said despite being visible from the Blackdown Hills its proposed estate would not cause any harm to the historic significance of the Wellington Monument.