A recent drone video provides a captivating view of a £2 million project set to facilitate the creation of over 1,600 new residences in the county of Somerset. The urban extension project in Staplegrove will encompass 1,628 homes, along with commercial spaces and a new primary school. Located at the north-western periphery of Taunton, the development spans the area between A358 Staplegrove Road and Taunton Road, leading to Kingston St. Mary and the Quantock Hills.
In July 2023, Wessex Water unveiled plans for the enhancement of sewage infrastructure in the vicinity, involving the installation of new pipes between Manor Road and Gypsy Lane to support the construction of the new homes. Aerial footage of this infrastructure work has been shared on social media, capturing the initial stages of construction near Taunton Vale Sports Club.
Simultaneously, Somerset Council has sanctioned the establishment of new wetlands close to the sports club. This initiative plays a crucial role in unlocking housing development within the eastern segment of the site. The outline planning permission for the entire Staplegrove urban extension was endorsed by Taunton Deane Borough Council in October 2017.
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However, the finalization of the legal agreements between the council and the developers was impeded by the Dutch N court ruling and subsequent guidance from Natural England in August 2020. As per this guidance, individuals intending to construct homes within the River Tone catchment area are required to implement additional measures to prevent any net escalation in phosphates on the Somerset Levels and Moors.
The mitigation strategies can encompass various measures such as the temporary cessation of agricultural activities within the same river catchment, the creation of new wetlands, or the upgrading of wastewater treatment facilities to reduce phosphate levels before they reach the protected areas. The initial phase of the Staplegrove West site, comprising 715 homes, commercial spaces, and a section of the new spine road, is set to commence construction shortly. Approval for new wetlands in the northern region was granted in September 2022, with revised plans for the site receiving the green light in December 2024.
The delivery of the Staplegrove East site, featuring 915 homes, the remaining section of the spine road, and a primary school, is scheduled to commence in the following years. To offset the impact of the new homes, new wetlands will be established south of Corkscrew Lane. In July 2023, Wessex Water highlighted the inadequacy of the existing local sewerage network in north-western Taunton, cautioning that inaction could heighten the area’s vulnerability to flooding in the future.
The remarkable drone footage, shared by Taunton resident Chris Haig, offers a panoramic view of a sizable trench stretching west from Gypsy Lane across three fields to Manor Road, facing the Church of St. John the Evangelist. A representative from Wessex Water stated, “We’re investing around £2m to install more than a kilometre of new sewer pipe, mainly within private land, to expand the network as new housing developments continue in the Staplegrove area. This project is expected to be completed by September.”
Amidst these developments, the existing public right of way linking Manor Road to Staplegrove Village Hall and the A358 is anticipated to remain accessible throughout the construction period.