The Crown Estate and Taylor Wimpey have firmly denied any wrongdoing concerning the sale of approximately 1,100 acres of land within the Orchard Portman Estate in Somerset, where plans for a new ‘garden village’ have been proposed. This land, mainly located to the east of Taunton Racecourse across the parishes of Orchard Portman and Stoke St. Mary, was sold to the developer in 2018.
Following the sale, Taylor Wimpey put forward the site in the ‘call for sites’ consultation for the Somerset Local Plan, suggesting it could accommodate a new garden village housing around 7,000 residents south of the M5 motorway.
Taunton resident David Orr has called on the Crown Estate’s board to review the transaction, expressing concerns that taxpayers might forgo millions in potential revenue if the land is developed and its value rises. Mr Orr, previously involved with the Save the Blackdown Vale campaign-which opposes the allocation of this land for residential development-highlighted the risks of urban sprawl and harm to the rural character near the Blackdown Hills national landscape.
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In his request to the Crown Estate, Mr Orr criticised the sale for seemingly lacking an “uplift clause.” Such a clause would entitle the Crown Estate, and by extension the public treasury, to a share of any substantial increase in land value following planning permission and development.
He stated: “Of particular concern is the apparent absence of an effective overage or uplift provision entitling the public to a share of the enormous increase in land value that would follow the grant of planning permission. In my view, disposing of land with such substantial long-term development potential without adequately protecting the public’s interest was a serious professional and commercial failure.”
Estimating the potential loss to taxpayers at £200 million based on current agricultural land prices, Mr Orr called for a thorough independent review. While aware that KPMG had examined the sale, he suggested that investigation focused mainly on internal governance compliance, lacking assessment of fair value for the nation and broader community considerations.
Adding to the concern, Gideon Amos, Liberal Democrat MP for Taunton and Wellington, has reported the transaction to the National Audit Office and the Public Accounts Committee. No formal responses have been received from these bodies yet, though Mr Amos plans to pursue the matter following the parliamentary recess.
The Crown Estate responded by stating that the 2018 sale formed part of a wider “strategic programme of rural land disposals” endorsed by its board, a strategy which has since been revised. They affirmed that appropriate professional advice and governance processes were observed, with the sale conducted through a competitive market process that yielded a price surpassing expectations and book value at the time.
Similarly, Taylor Wimpey strongly refutes allegations of misconduct, emphasising that the acquisition was made via an open market sale. Following an independent Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) investigation that found no significant failings, the developer remains committed to delivering the Taunton Garden Village. Their proposals include approximately 7,000 modern, energy-efficient, and sustainable homes addressing the area’s pressing housing needs.
Taylor Wimpey highlights that the planned development aims to provide extensive community amenities such as primary and secondary schools, a healthcare hub, commercial spaces, and dedicated active travel routes to Taunton town centre. They also stress ongoing engagement with local stakeholders to incorporate community views and requirements, reaffirming their commitment to working collaboratively with Somerset Council.