A decision on the development of 400 new homes across three sites near Taunton has been postponed to allow for a comprehensive review of the town’s ‘green wedges’—protected landscape areas designed to preserve the environment and prevent urban sprawl.
The Taunton Deane Core Strategy, approved in July 2012 and legally binding until 2028, identifies key land parcels for new housing and commercial projects in Taunton, Wellington, Wiveliscombe, and nearby villages. Crucially, this strategy also designates ‘green wedges’ to maintain natural buffers and limit the merging of Taunton with adjacent communities.
Over the past decade, three developers have submitted applications for major housing projects in the village of Trull, complementing the ongoing Orchard Grove urban extension, which extends from Honiton Road to the A38 Wellington Road within the former Comeytrowe parish.
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However, in light of the green wedge review, decision-making on these developments has been deferred until early February, with further delays possible depending on viability assessments.
The oldest application, filed by Broadlands Twenty Twelve in January 2015, proposes 145 homes west of Honiton Road near Canonsgrove halls of residence, part of Bridgwater and Taunton College. The majority of homes would be situated between Canonsgrove and Sweethay Lane, with access primarily via Honiton Road. A smaller section north of Sweethay Lane includes some homes and allotments connected by a road near Trull Tennis Club.
Nearby, land between Honiton Road and Dipford Road is planned for a new roundabout to link Trull with Orchard Grove via Egremont Road. The design details remain unclear, but current proposals suggest that Dipford Road would be cut near the cricket club entrance. Somerset Council secured government funding through the new homes accelerator fund for Orchard Grove, though the exact amount and its application toward finishing Egremont Road and the roundabout remains uncertain.
An Orchard Grove consortium spokesperson highlighted the benefits of government support: “The new homes accelerator initiative helps ease planning and regulatory processes. We are pleased Orchard Grove is part of this programme and will continue collaborating with the local authority to deliver high-quality homes and essential infrastructure.”
Conversely, Trull Parish Council has expressed concerns over the lack of coordinated planning among developers, warning that disconnected developments could result in isolated cul-de-sacs rather than integrated communities. They criticized the absence of a unified strategy for infrastructure and access across the various sites.
To the north, BSL Strategic Ltd. submitted plans in October 2024 for 125 homes on agricultural land east of existing properties between Comeytrowe Road and College Way. This development would include a spine road connecting these two roads, currently linked only by a public footpath running behind homes on New Road and Bradford Close.
The third site, proposed by Trull LVA LLP on Dipford Road near the cricket club, involves 130 homes accessible from the western side. If approved, this would leave the cricket club almost entirely surrounded by residential areas.
Combined, these three projects would create 400 homes, including 100 affordable units — meeting the council’s 25% requirement for developments of this scale in the Taunton Deane area.
Trull Parish Council has formally objected to all applications, citing concerns about the community’s capacity to accommodate such growth. They highlight slow occupancy rates at Orchard Grove and the lack of supporting amenities like schools and medical facilities. They argue that approving these developments risks ongoing construction disruptions, slow building progress, and financial instability.
Taunton Town Council also voiced objections, particularly relating to the potential loss of designated green wedge land and safety worries over the proposed College Way access point.
All sites fall within the River Tone catchment area, necessitating developers to implement measures minimizing phosphate pollution on the Somerset Levels and Moors.
Prior to the January 22 strategic planning committee meeting, an update indicated that proposals along Honiton Road and Comeytrowe Road remain on hold pending the green wedge review. The Dipford Road plans are still under consultee consideration.
The green wedge review findings will be discussed at the council’s planning and transport policy executive sub-committee meeting on February 4. Final decisions on all developments are expected by year-end and will likely be made publicly by the planning committee west due to the projects’ significance, rather than through delegated planning officer approvals.