Detailed proposals have been unveiled for the construction of 915 new homes on an important development site in Taunton. This forms part of the larger Staplegrove urban extension, which will eventually provide a total of 1,628 homes, commercial spaces, a primary school, and a spine road linking the A358 Staplegrove Road to Taunton Road on the north-western edge of Somerset’s county town.
Bloor Homes South West is responsible for the Staplegrove West section, comprising 713 homes and commercial units situated between the A358 and Whitmore Lane. Construction is underway on the first 242 houses within the newly named Quantock Park estate, in addition to the western end of the spine road.
Following a public consultation held in late April, Stonewater and PM Asset Management have published revised plans for the Staplegrove East development. Somerset Council is expected to decide on these proposals shortly after Christmas.
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The Staplegrove East site will deliver 915 “high-quality, energy-efficient” homes concentrated between Whitmore Lane and Taunton Road, north of Corkscrew Lane. Of these homes, 15 per cent (137 properties) will be affordable; however, this figure could increase to 30 per cent (275 properties) if additional funding is secured from Homes England.
As the homes are built, the connecting spine road will be completed, including a new signalised crossroads at Taunton Road. At the heart of the development, a local centre will be established, potentially incorporating a convenience store, creative workspaces, and a community hall. Flexible commercial spaces will also be provided for cafés and restaurants, with possible residential or office accommodation above.
A new primary school with capacity for 420 pupils will be situated at the western edge of the site. The development will also include new allotments, sports pitches, and woodlands as part of extensive open spaces surrounding the area.
To manage surface water, numerous attenuation ponds will be installed south of the spine road, directing water towards new wetlands south of Corkscrew Lane, which received council approval in March 2025.
Matthew Crucefix, group director of development at Stonewater, emphasised the importance of public consultation in shaping the plans. He said, “We are particularly pleased to help deliver a long-standing community aspiration to improve walking and cycling connections between Kingston St Mary and Taunton. This demonstrates how development can support local communities by delivering infrastructure improvements that benefit both current and future residents.”
Kingston St Mary Parish Council and the Kingston Area Pedestrian and Cycle Campaign (KAPACC) have been advocating since 2017 for safer walking and cycling routes between Taunton and the village, located on the southern edge of the Quantock Hills national landscape.
Following the consultation, attended by more than 220 people, the development will provide the southernmost section of a new active travel route. This route could be extended northwards over time, subject to funding and agreements with landowners.
David Stripp from Kingston St Mary Parish Council welcomed Stonewater’s responsiveness, stating, “Their collaborative approach and prompt action following our requests exemplify genuine engagement and consultation. Planning such a route requires agreement from multiple landowners and is a gradual process, but this support is a very positive step forward. We are extremely grateful.”
In response to feedback, the plans have also been amended to potentially include additional bungalows and measures to reduce vehicle speeds both within and near the development.
Full details of the revised plans are available at www.staplegrove-east.co.uk.
Mark Yadegar, managing director of PM Asset Management, commented, “Staplegrove East will play a vital role in meeting Taunton’s future housing needs. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Somerset Council and the wider community as the proposals progress.”
The council is expected to make a decision on the revised proposals early in the new year. Due to their scale and significance, all decisions related to the Staplegrove site will be made in public by the planning committee west, which handles major applications in the former Somerset West and Taunton area, rather than by planning officers through delegated powers.