Plans to build 125 homes on a cherished ‘green wedge’ near Taunton have been decisively rejected, preserving a vital landscape that prevents urban sprawl between Taunton and neighboring villages. The Taunton Deane Core Strategy, endorsed in 2012, designated these green wedges as protected areas to maintain local identity and environmental quality.
On February 4, Somerset Council’s planning and transport policy executive sub-committee unanimously refused to remove the ‘Trull Ridge green wedge,’ halting a review that aimed to erase its protected status. Shortly thereafter, the council’s planning committee west faced a proposal from BSL Strategic Ltd to construct 125 homes on part of this very green wedge, located north of Comeytrowe Road on agricultural land.
Despite officer recommendations to approve the development, the committee members voted unanimously to reject the plans, eliciting applause from residents who attended the meeting. The proposal included 31 affordable homes, meeting the council’s 25% affordable housing requirement for larger developments within the former Taunton Deane district.
Local residents voiced strong concerns. Trull resident Sam Allen criticized the apparent contradiction between the recent green wedge protection and the new development proposal, questioning the validity and cost of the review process. Another resident, Alan Sawyer, warned that the construction would undermine the community’s well-being and risk the loss of Trull’s distinct identity.
Concerns over local infrastructure were echoed by Martine Naughton, chair of Trull Parish Council, highlighting the site’s susceptibility to flooding and the strain on overstretched services such as healthcare and schools. Councillor Dawn Johnson emphasized the policy’s role in preventing Taunton and Trull from merging and preserving their unique character, stating that reliance on cars due to lack of local services would not constitute sustainable development.
The council is also considering turning part of Comeytrowe Road into a ‘green lane’ with restricted vehicle access to reduce traffic impacts, a factor that councilors worried would conflict with the planning assumptions for the new housing development. Councillor Habib Farbahi pointed to narrow road conditions and traffic issues, reinforcing opposition to the plan.
Councillor Caroline Ellis warned that losing half of the green wedge would set a dangerous precedent, fundamentally altering the countryside-town relationship that defines Taunton. While a dissenting voice, Councillor Norman Cavill, argued there was no valid highway safety reason to reject the application, the majority sentiment prevailed, and the proposal was refused.
With unanimous committee opposition and widespread public support, the cherished green wedge near Taunton remains protected. BSL Strategic Ltd has yet to announce if it will appeal the decision.