A new road leading to Somerset’s latest railway station is set to be financed through contributions from various housing developments in the region. Following the termination of the High Speed 2 rail link between Birmingham and Manchester, the Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed its funding support for the development of the new Wellington railway station.
The proposed road extension will connect the existing route to the town’s Lidl supermarket on Nynehead Road to the railway line, forming part of a planned 220-home project. Somerset Council has greenlighted the allocation of approximately £4.5m from other local housing developments to advance the road construction, ensuring the timely opening of the new station by September 2025.
Typically, developers provide financial contributions for local infrastructure, including roads, schools, healthcare facilities, sports amenities, and recreational spaces as part of the construction of new housing developments. These contributions are secured through Section 106 agreements or the community infrastructure levy (CIL).
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Funds from Section 106 agreements are usually allocated for infrastructure within or close to the development site, while CIL funds from different sites can be pooled and utilized for larger projects, such as schools, located at a considerable distance from the contributing housing developments.
Plans for a new development encompassing 220 homes and commercial space, along with the access road to the station site and parking near the southern platform, have been presented by West of England Developments (Taunton) Ltd. However, the actual station infrastructure, including platforms, ticket office, and lifts, will be managed through a separate application by Network Rail, the leading entity for the project.
In the midst of the ongoing phosphates crisis, Somerset Council has affirmed the feasibility of the new station and its surrounding development, despite negotiations addressing the mitigation of phosphates through on-site wetlands and the acquisition of phosphate credits from fallowed agricultural land in the River Tone catchment area. Nevertheless, pending negotiations might pose a risk to the station’s opening by late-2025, potentially impacting the central government funding for the project.
To preempt potential delays, the council’s planning and transport policy sub-committee has authorized the preliminary use of CIL funds to facilitate the construction of the access road. Mike O’Dowd-Jones, the council’s service director for infrastructure and transport, outlined, “As the developer is unable to guarantee delivery of the access road and associated infrastructure by 2025, we may need to take over control of the delivery of the access road and associated infrastructure.”
The proposed initiative suggests utilizing CIL funds to provide financial support for the project, which will be recuperated from the surrounding housing developments once planning permission has been granted, in adherence to the Section 106 agreement covering the site.
The estimated cost for the road construction stands at £4.5m, necessitating £500,000 for design and planning, and up to £4m for the actual construction. Councillor Dixie Darch, portfolio holder for climate change and the environment, expressed enthusiasm about the progress with the Wellington station, emphasizing the council’s commitment to its successful establishment.
Presently, developments within the Wellington parish boundary are exempt from CIL payments, whereas those extending into neighboring parishes, such as Wellington Without, are subject to CIL obligations. This exemption is expected to endure until the completion of the new Somerset-wide Local Plan in early 2028, with the majority of the funding for the new road originating from developments outside the town.
Councillor Ros Wyke, portfolio holder for economic development, planning, and assets, acknowledged the financial contributions from Section 106 agreements and affirmed the sub-committee’s approval for the interim use of CIL to expedite the road construction.
The housing development plans are anticipated to undergo review by the council’s planning committee west, responsible for major applications in the former Somerset West and Taunton area, later this year. Mr O’Dowd-Jones asserted that achieving the new road by September 2025 presents challenges but remains feasible.