A once “minging” office block in central Taunton is set for transformation into 111 new flats designed specifically for NHS staff, following approval by the local planning committee.
Somerset Council sold the C Block of County Hall, located at the southern end of The Crescent, in March 2025. The sale proceeds will help fund frontline public services. Specialist developer Prime PLC, known for health and care property projects, submitted revised plans in November 2025 for converting the 4,600-square-metre building into residential flats targeted at new recruits at Musgrove Park Hospital and nearby NHS services.
Despite concerns about limited parking and the compact size of the flats, the council’s planning committee west, overseeing major developments in former Somerset West and Taunton, granted approval. The eight-storey block will house 99 one-bedroom studio apartments, six two-person units, and six three-person flats, totaling 111 dwellings.
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Each studio apartment will have just under 25 square metres of floor space, including a bathroom and combined kitchen/dining area. In support of tenant needs, communal laundry facilities and a new lift shaft to meet modern fire safety standards will be added to the 1960s structure.
Parking provision will be minimal, with just ten underground spaces. This reflects the council’s expectation that the majority of NHS staff will walk, cycle, or carpool to Musgrove Park Hospital, located approximately 800 metres (a 15-minute walk) from the site.
Richard Baum, head of strategic planning at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, highlighted the urgent demand for affordable, high-quality staff accommodation during the planning meeting held on June 23. Baum emphasized that a shortage of suitable housing often deters potential recruits and complicates retention for early-career NHS employees who typically require flexible and affordable living options. This new development aims to bridge that gap by providing local, cost-effective housing to support workforce stability and sustainable patient care delivery.
The flats are expected to serve as starter homes for NHS workers who will often move on to larger local properties as their careers progress. This approach encourages workforce retention within the local community.
Councillors expressed mixed reactions during the debate. Conservative Councillor Andy Hadley welcomed the initiative but voiced concerns about potential street parking congestion, noting that many tenants are likely to own cars despite the limited onsite parking.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Nick O’Donnell questioned whether the modest apartment sizes—averaging just below 25 square metres—would offer a comfortable living space. He likened them to sized rooms more reminiscent of hotels, pointing out the lack of separate kitchen areas compared to student accommodation.
Conversely, Liberal Democrat Councillor Caroline Ellis praised the scheme as a smart use of brownfield land that avoids further development on greenfield sites at the outskirts of Taunton. She called the project a solution to a burning social and community need, helping attract and retain vital NHS workers. Ellis also noted that the C Block, a visually unappealing building, would benefit from a significant facelift.
Conservative Councillor Norman Cavill agreed, emphasizing the difficulty in attracting nursing and college staff without such housing and welcoming the planned improvement to the building’s appearance.
With unanimous backing from the planning committee, construction is set to begin soon, potentially starting before Christmas. This development represents a substantial step forward in addressing housing challenges faced by NHS workers in the Somerset area.