Taylor Wimpey and the Crown Estate have firmly rejected allegations of misconduct concerning the 2018 sale of land in Somerset poised for the development of a new ‘garden village’.
The Crown Estate sold approximately 1,100 acres within the Orchard Portman Estate to the developer. This land primarily lies east of Taunton Racecourse, covering areas in the parishes of Orchard Portman and Stoke St. Mary. Taylor Wimpey later proposed the site in the ‘call for sites’ stage of the Somerset Local Plan, suggesting it as the location for a new ‘garden village’ comprising around 7,000 homes south of the M5 motorway.
Local resident David Orr has called for the Crown Estate’s board to reconsider the sale, warning that the public could forgo substantial financial gains if the land increases in value following development.
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Both the Crown Estate and Taylor Wimpey have maintained that the transaction was transparent and above board. The Crown Estate highlighted that the sale price exceeded initial expectations.
Mr Orr, formerly involved with the Save the Blackdown Vale campaign, which opposes residential development within Somerset Council’s Local Plan on this land, expressed concerns over potential urban sprawl and lasting harm to the rural character near the Blackdown Hills national landscape.
He argued that the sale lacked an “uplift clause” or similar mechanism that would entitle the public to a share of increased land value arising from planning permission, calling this omission a “serious professional and commercial failure”. He estimated that the potential cost to taxpayers could exceed £200 million, based on current agricultural land valuations, and urged a thorough independent review.
Mr Orr acknowledged a previous review by KPMG but believed it focused primarily on adherence to the Crown Estate’s internal governance rather than ensuring the nation received fair value or adequately protected future gains.
Gideon Amos, Liberal Democrat MP for Taunton and Wellington, has reported the issue to both the National Audit Office and the Public Accounts Committee. At present, no formal responses have been received, though Mr Amos plans to follow up once Parliament reconvenes after the party conference season in October.
The Crown Estate stated that the 2018 sale was part of a broader, board-approved strategy for rural land disposals, a strategy which has since been modified. It confirmed that all appropriate professional advice and governance procedures were followed, noting that both internal and independent reviews found no breaches of policy or procedure. The sale was conducted through a competitive market process and exceeded both expectations and book value.
Taylor Wimpey repudiated any impropriety, declaring that the land acquisition was competitive and transparent. An independent RICS investigation found no actionable failings. The company outlined plans for approximately 7,000 modern, energy-efficient homes to meet local housing demand, complemented by community facilities including schools, a healthcare centre, dedicated travel routes, commercial spaces, and affordable housing.
The developer emphasised ongoing engagement with local stakeholders to address community needs and reaffirmed commitment to collaborating with Somerset Council to deliver much-needed new homes.