Plans for the development of Somerset’s new railway station site in Wellington have received the green light from local councillors, pending a final decision from central government. Cherwyn Developments secured planning permission in May 2024 to construct 200 homes on Nynehead Road in Wellington, with access to the future site of a £15m railway station intended to serve the town.
The fate of the station rests on the imminent ruling by the Labour government, which commenced a review of major transport projects shortly after winning the general election in July 2024. In the lead-up to this decision, additional plans for the station site were submitted to Somerset Council. These include designs for the spine road that will connect the station and new homes to Nynehead Road, as well as a plan for the ‘station square’ that will welcome arriving passengers to the town.
Following fervent lobbying by local MPs prior to the government’s spending review, the council’s planning committee west unanimously approved both proposals. The spine road, extending from Nynehead Road to the new car park near the southbound platform of the station, will feature a pedestrian and cycle lane, aligning with the council’s recently-released Wellington local cycling and walking infrastructure plan. The ‘station square’ is poised to include an artistic centrepiece and a new mobility hub to promote cycling while accommodating local buses.
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Chris Winter, managing director of Cherwyn Developments, emphasized the urgency of the project, highlighting the need for a comprehensive active travel solution. While questions were raised about the implications should the station not proceed, the council confirmed that the road would still serve the remaining site, regardless of the station’s fate.
MPs such as Gideon Amos and Richard Foord have been actively advocating for the station plans, underscoring the potential benefits for the community. With the ‘station square’ project allocated a budget of £305,000 and set to be transferred to Wellington Town Council upon completion, both sets of plans were approved unanimously by the committee.
Under the Section 106 agreement, Cherwyn Developments is obligated to commence work on the spine road by June 5 and complete it by April 1, 2026. Any occupation of the new homes is contingent upon the completion of this road. The government is set to announce its decision on the Wellington and Cullompton station projects by the conclusion of the spending review, expected in late-June.