A protracted planning dispute over a housing development in Taunton has finally been resolved, with approval granted for 112 new homes after more than eight years of deliberations. Gladman Developments, based in Congleton, has been pushing since November 2017 to build on land adjacent to Pyrland Farm off Cheddon Road, on the northern fringe of Taunton.
Originally, the developer sought permission for 180 homes, but Taunton Deane Borough Council rejected those plans in July 2019. Subsequent revisions reduced the proposal first to 150 homes and eventually to 112, following long negotiations with planning officers.
Frustrated by delays, Gladman appealed to the Planning Inspectorate in November 2025. Before Christmas, Somerset Council’s planning committee acknowledged they would have approved the plans given more time. The Planning Inspectorate has now granted outline permission, though construction is unlikely to start for at least another year.
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The site was allocated in the 2012 Taunton Deane Core Strategy for residential use but expected to deliver only up to 45 homes. Now, the proposal includes 112 homes, with 25% (28 properties) designated as affordable housing. Access will be created at the western end of Cheddon Road, complemented by pedestrian access to Lyngford Lane near existing homes and farm buildings, close to the approved phase three of the Nerrols Farm development.
The development is anticipated to contribute significantly to local services, including over £1.6 million towards expanding school places—including special needs provision—and more than £50,000 to enhance GP surgeries. Additionally, nearly £245,000 will fund improvements to walking and cycling routes along Cheddon Road, part of Taunton’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP).
Planning inspector Cullum Parker, who visited the site in late February, acknowledged the pressing need for affordable housing in both Taunton and nearby Cheddon Fitzpaine. While noting that the development would increase pressure on existing services, especially overburdened GP surgeries, he found the funding secured to be acceptable per national NHS funding formulas.
Mr. Parker highlighted the importance of active travel enhancements to mitigate the development’s impact, noting community concerns about pedestrian and vehicle access to local schools. Given the likelihood that children from the site will attend nearby schools, these improvements are vital.
A significant hurdle involved phosphate mitigation due to the site’s location within the River Tone catchment area, impacting the Somerset Levels and Moors. Gladman plans to purchase phosphate credits from local firm WCI to address environmental requirements. The inspector confirmed that these measures, along with sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS), sufficiently mitigate potential phosphate pollution and flood risks.
Regarding road safety, despite Cheddon Road’s narrowness and limited footpaths, Mr. Parker concluded that financial contributions from the development would adequately address concerns and that refusal on highway safety grounds would not be justified.
The inspector also dismissed objections related to developing on prime agricultural land, citing no applicable policy against such development and weighing this factor against the urgent need for housing supply and affordable units in the area.
Construction cannot commence until a reserved matters application detailing design and layout is approved. The build will be carefully coordinated with nearby Nerrols Farm development to avoid excessive congestion.
With this approval, the long-anticipated addition of new homes promises to help ease Taunton’s housing shortage and bolster local infrastructure.