Work Begins on Cutcombe Livestock Market

Work has just started on the development of Cutcombe livestock market at Wheddon Cross. As well as first class market facilities, the development will also provide 25 new residential units, 12 of them affordable houses for local people and three blocks of business premises.

The application for the development, which was approved last year, was one of the largest to come before Exmoor National Park Authority in recent years. Planning officers at the National Park Authority spent some 4 years working with the applicants to examine possible ways to deliver the replacement market and it became clear that an element of open market housing was the only realistic opportunity available to pay for the new Livestock Market. Cutcombe Market is vital to the future of Exmoor’s farmers and, without funds from the sale of the 13 open market housing units included in the application, the development of the new market facilities would not have been able to go ahead.

The approach to the application has been very much a partnership between Exmoor Farmers Livestock Auctions, Summerfield Developments, Somerset Council Council, Magna West Somerset and the National Park Authority. Cutcombe Parish Council has also been a key player and supportive of the principle of the scheme.

The new Livestock Market building will be constructed first and then the housing will follow in the summer of this year. Peter Huntley, manager of Exmoor Farmers Livestock Auctions said: "The livestock farmers of Exmoor have a vital role in preserving the landscape and environment and the market is an intergral part of this process."

The new homes will have energy saving features such as air source heat pumps to generate heat for the central heating systems and solar panels to provide hot water. Some properties will also be fitted with wood burning stoves.

Linda Atkins, vice chairman of Cutcombe Parish Council said: “We are delighted that building work is finally underway. As a council, we appreciate the initiative of Exmoor Farmers Livestock Auctions in utilizing their land thoughtfully, contributing to long term benefits for our community and Exmoor.

We have been engaged with this project from the outset and have consulted extensively with the local community, so we are looking forward to working with the developer and Magna, to provide much needed housing for workers in the community and support for the future of the school.”