Up to 40 new homes could soon be built in the quaint Somerset village of Curry Rivel, pending approval of new outline plans submitted by Maple West Partnership. The proposed development site is located west of Maple Road, nestled between the towns of Langport and Taunton.
Extensive consultations were held with local residents and the parish council in 2025, with the developer emphasizing that the project represents “a logical extension to the existing built-up area” of the village. The development promises significant contributions to community facilities and services.
Somerset Council is anticipated to make a decision on the application within the next six months.
READ MORE: Midsomer Norton Car Park Charges Generate Majority of Revenue from Fines, Yielding Little Profit
READ MORE: Somerset’s Mary Rand: The Trailblazing Olympic Champion Who Changed Women’s Athletics
The proposed site sits west of current homes on Maple Road and is bordered to the north by houses on Dyers Road, marking the village’s northern edge. Access will be provided via Maple Drove, close to the Stanchester Way children’s play area, with a new bridge planned over a watercourse on the site’s eastern boundary. In addition, a pedestrian access point will connect the development to Dyers Road at the northwest corner. To address flooding concerns, an attenuation basin will be constructed along the southern boundary near Parsonage Place.
Out of the 40 new homes, 14 will be designated as affordable housing, meeting the council’s target of 35% affordable units for developments exceeding ten homes.
A representative from Polden Planning Ltd., acting on behalf of the applicant, stated: “The outline planning application has been shaped by both pre-application advice and community engagement. We carefully considered concerns about the impact of new housing on infrastructure and can confirm that our scheme includes funding for improvements to schools, healthcare, play areas, and open spaces. With 40 new households added to a village of approximately 1,000 homes, we believe this level of growth is appropriate and sustainable. We have undertaken detailed flood risk assessments using site-specific modeling, augmented by local insights gained during our consultations. This ensures not only that the development will not increase flood risk but also that it will help reduce existing flooding issues for properties on Parsonage Place.”
In addition to the affordable homes, the developer plans to contribute nearly £110,000 to support local play areas, sports pitches, changing rooms, and youth facilities. Another £23,000 will be allocated to enhance local health services, potentially benefiting Langport Surgery, which recently secured over £1.14 million in government funding to expand its capabilities.
Given that Curry Rivel lies within the River Parrett catchment area, measures will be implemented to prevent any increase in phosphates impacting the sensitive Somerset Levels and Moors. This will likely involve the purchase of phosphate credits, which are generated through fallowing agricultural land within the catchment.
The spokesperson added: “Our site is a natural extension of the existing Maple Road homes and nearby residential areas, with close proximity to village amenities. We anticipate negligible planning harm and believe the proposal aligns well with local development goals.”
Somerset Council is expected to reach a verdict on the Maple Road proposals by late summer. Due to the scale of the development, the planning decision may be made publicly by the council’s planning committee South, rather than by officers through delegated powers.
Separately, West of England Developments (Taunton) Ltd. is poised to commence construction on 18 homes at Abbey Close on the village’s eastern end, following planning permission granted in September 2025.