A consortium of developers, including Bovis Homes, Linden Homes, Taylor Wimpey, and housing association LiveWest, is committed to completing the Orchard Grove housing development in Somerset’s county town. The project, which received outline planning consent in 2018, aims to deliver 2,000 new homes, along with a new primary school, commercial space, and a ‘park and bus’ facility on the western edge of Taunton, between the A38 Wellington Road and Honiton Road.
Progress of the development has been affected by the phosphates crisis, requiring the developers to secure additional mitigation to prevent any net increase in phosphates within the protected Somerset Levels and Moors Ramsar site. In response to this challenge, the council and developers have joined hands after the central government funding was secured. Both parties are determined to find a way forward to deliver “a thriving new community in the heart of Somerset” while meeting local needs.
The consortium emphasizes its commitment to supporting the local population’s needs within a dynamic new community that includes 2,000 homes, various amenities, and ample green space. Despite the hurdles related to nutrient neutrality, the developers are resolute in working alongside Somerset Council to expedite the delivery of new homes and essential infrastructure to bolster the wider economy.
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Plans for creating 160 new homes south of Higher Comeytrowe Farm Lane were withdrawn to prioritize existing projects across the site, while work continues on the development’s green spaces and the business park, with a new care home and a ‘park and bus’ facility also in the pipeline.
The council’s receipt of £9.6m funding from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities (DLUHC) is seen as a potential avenue to expand phosphate credits programs, unlocking numerous homes across the county. The funds are aimed at increasing the delivery of phosphate mitigation measures and offering additional phosphate credits for developers to purchase, ultimately aiding developments across the Somerset area.