Residents of the growing Killams Park housing development in Taunton can now benefit from enhanced health services thanks to recent upgrades at their nearest GP surgery. Summerfield Homes is nearing completion of the Killams Park project, which comprises 315 homes and a 66-bed care home located on Killams Drive, at the southern edge of Somerset’s county town.
The development, approved by Taunton Deane Borough Council in December 2013, committed to delivering 25% affordable housing—equivalent to 79 units—and allocated funding for a new primary school. While the original Section 106 agreement did not include provisions for health facility improvements, the nearest GP surgery, Warwick House Medical Centre on Upper Holway Road, has recently expanded its capacity thanks to a government-funded upgrade.
In early May 2025, the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) announced £102 million of nationwide funding to refurbish and expand 16 GP surgeries across Somerset as part of the NHS ten-year plan. Somerset received approximately £1.14 million, administered by the NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB), which worked closely with selected practices to finalize business cases for improvements.
Warwick House Medical Centre was one of two Taunton surgeries to secure a share of this funding. The upgrades included the creation of a new clinical room, replacing a secondary waiting area, and modifications to the main waiting space. These enhancements allow more patients to be seen and treated efficiently, improving access for the local community.
A spokesperson for Symphony Healthcare Services said, “The new room replaces a secondary waiting area, ensuring all patients now wait in the main reception area. This additional clinical space enables us to see and treat more patients at the practice.”
Located approximately 1.5 miles from the southern tip of Killams Park, Warwick House Medical Centre is accessible via several crossings across Chestnut Drive. The mostly flat terrain with wide pavements aids accessibility, though some steep sections may pose challenges for those with limited mobility. Notably, this route was not identified for specific improvement in the 2022 Taunton Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP).
The other Taunton surgery to benefit from this government funding is French Weir Health Centre, although the precise nature of its planned improvements has not been publicly disclosed. A spokesperson for French Weir Health Centre clarified the situation, stating, “We have not yet received direct funding nor agreed to any building alterations. The funding referred to in recent news relates to very specific criteria and is not a general investment in practice buildings. There are currently no confirmed changes to our premises, but we will keep patients updated if this changes.”
For more information about Warwick House Medical Centre and patient registration, visit www.warwickhouse.org.uk.