The first phase of the significant Staplegrove urban extension in Taunton has received planning approval, with 242 new homes set to be built despite heated debate over the design of the new spine road. The development, now officially named Quantock Park, will ultimately bring 1,628 homes, employment land, and a new primary school to the north-western edge of Taunton, Somerset.
Bloor Homes South West is currently constructing the initial junction onto Staplegrove Road, leading to the western section of the development that comprises 713 homes, commercial units, and the spine road extending to Whitmore Lane. Somerset Council’s planning committee recently approved detailed plans for this first phase, even as some councillors voiced strong criticism of the spine road’s design.
Located west of Rectory Road, the first phase will wrap new homes around existing residences on Rectory Close and Sandene Close. Of the planned homes, only 15 percent—36 houses—will be affordable, based on viability assessments of the wider site. The spine road will run through the development with a dedicated pedestrian and cycle path along its entire length, connecting to existing active travel infrastructure on the A3065 Silk Mills Road.
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The main employment hub creating jobs within Quantock Park will be situated south of the spine road near Rectory Road and will be addressed in a separate planning application.
Alongside the housing plans, the committee reviewed two related proposals: one concerning an ecological buffer strip running from Staplegrove Road along the northern edge of the site, including flood prevention measures for the adjacent Back Stream, and another focusing on the spine road’s design. Notably, this road will be delivered solely by the developer rather than funded by the government’s housing infrastructure program.
The road will initially extend only as far as Rectory Road, which will be closed off to southbound traffic. However, controversy erupted over the proposed 30mph speed limit on this road. Councillor Caroline Ellis criticized the decision, labeling it “sheer lunacy” to designate a road intended for 20mph traffic with a 30mph limit. She stressed concerns for vulnerable residents, including children and the elderly, emphasizing the need for safer, lower-speed limits in residential areas.
In response, council planning officer Simon Fox explained that the speed limit could be revised later and that the design was informed by lessons learned from the Monkton Heathfield development. The goal is to make the road a “liveable street” that integrates with the community rather than becoming a high-speed barrier dividing homes.
Councillor Simon Coles agreed that this design improves on other developments with overly fast, featureless roads. However, some residents expressed unease about the scale and character of the new housing, fearing it would overwhelm the local community and alter Staplegrove’s rural feel. Concerns were also raised about prolonged construction impacts and traffic management, with calls for better bus services linking the development to the town center.
Flooding is a significant concern among residents with properties on Rectory Road and Manor Road, who worry that planned attenuation basins may not be sufficient to handle increased water flow, risking flooding of their homes.
Local action groups criticized the development for what they see as fragmented planning practices that fail to address the bigger picture. Residents voiced skepticism about promotional images portraying near car-free streets, saying they do not reflect real-life conditions.
Despite the intense debate and opposition, the three related applications were approved by the council’s planning committee after around three hours of discussion. Councillor Derek Perry acknowledged the controversy but expressed hope that the scheme’s details would improve upon previous developments in the area. Work is expected to commence only after satisfactory surface water drainage plans are secured, offering some reassurance to concerned residents.