Comprehensive plans have been unveiled for the development of 915 new homes on the Staplegrove East site, a key area within Taunton’s wider urban extension project. Positioned between Whitmore Lane and Taunton Road, north of Corkscrew Lane, this development forms part of the larger Staplegrove urban extension, which will ultimately deliver 1,628 homes alongside commercial spaces, a primary school, and a new spine road connecting the A358 Staplegrove Road with Taunton Road at the north-western edge of Somerset’s county town.
Bloor Homes South West are currently delivering the adjacent Staplegrove West section, which includes 713 homes and commercial units between the A358 and Whitmore Lane. Construction is underway on the first 242 houses within the newly-named Quantock Park estate, along with the western end of the spine road.
Following a public consultation in late April, Stonewater and PM Asset Management have published revised plans for Staplegrove East. Somerset Council is expected to reach a decision on the proposals shortly after Christmas.
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The Staplegrove East development will feature 915 “high-quality, energy-efficient” homes. Of these, 15 per cent (approximately 137 properties) will be affordable housing. This figure could increase to 30 per cent (around 275 properties) pending additional funding from Homes England.
The new spine road will be completed in tandem with the housing build, including a signalised crossroads on Taunton Road. A ‘local centre’ will form the heart of the development, potentially comprising a convenience store, creative workspaces, and a community hall. Flexible commercial spaces are planned to accommodate cafés and restaurants, with prospects for residential or office accommodation above.
Education provision includes a new primary school with capacity for 420 pupils, located at the western edge of the site. The development will also incorporate allotments, sports pitches, and woodlands as part of the extensive open spaces surrounding the area.
Significant drainage improvements are planned, with several attenuation ponds south of the spine road to manage water runoff. These will channel water toward newly approved wetlands south of Corkscrew Lane, following the council’s planning committee approval in March 2025.
Matthew Crucefix, group director of development at Stonewater, emphasised the importance of public consultation: “We are grateful to everyone who shared their views with us. We are particularly pleased to contribute to a long-standing community aspiration by enhancing 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, along with the Kingston Area Pedestrian and Cycle Campaign (KAPACC), have campaigned since 2017 for safer walking and cycling routes between Taunton and the village, situated on the southern edge of the Quantock Hills national landscape.
More than 220 people attended the consultation event, after which the development plans were amended to include the southernmost section of a new active travel route. This route has potential for future northward extension, subject to funding and landowner agreements.
David Stripp from Kingston St Mary Parish Council praised Stonewater’s collaborative approach: “Their willingness to amend plans to align with our proposed route and offer additional options has been encouraging. This is genuine engagement and consultation in action. While planning such a route involves multiple landowners and takes time, Stonewater’s support is a positive step forward that brings us closer to realising this ambition. We are extremely grateful.”
Additional plan amendments include provision for more bungalows and measures to reduce vehicle speeds 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, stated: “Staplegrove East is crucial in meeting Taunton’s future housing needs. We look forward to ongoing collaboration with Somerset Council and the local community as the project advances.”
Somerset Council is anticipated to make a decision on the revised proposals early next year. Given the scale and significance of the Staplegrove developments, all planning decisions will be made publicly by the planning committee west, which oversees major applications within the former Somerset West and Taunton area, rather than through delegated officer powers.