Plans to expand a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) at 41 Taunton Road, one of Bridgwater’s busiest streets, could still move forward following a recent appeal.
In December 2025, EDJ Investments submitted an application to increase the number of bedrooms in the existing HMO from six to eight. However, Somerset Council rejected the proposal in early February, citing concerns over the potential decline in residents' quality of life and the negative impact on neighboring properties.
Unwilling to concede, the developer has now lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate, which will review the case and issue a decision later this year.
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Taunton Road, part of the congested A38 corridor, serves as a key route between Bridgwater town center and Junction 24 of the M5 motorway. The current HMO configuration includes six bedrooms spread over two floors, complemented by communal kitchen, dining, and seating areas on the ground floor.
The proposed expansion would add two additional bedrooms on the top floor, with each new bedroom featuring its own en-suite bathroom. GD Designs, representing the applicant, emphasized that the interior refurbishment would create a more comfortable living environment. Glynn Deakin explained, “Each bedroom will have an en-suite shower room, and the property will be refurbished to provide a pleasant living space for residents.”
Addressing parking concerns, the plans include nine parking spaces in the rear garden area with secure cycle storage. Given the property’s proximity to local amenities, the developer expects most residents will not require a car.
Somerset Council’s rejection, made through planning officers’ delegated authority rather than a public planning committee, was based on key issues. Then-chief planning officer Alison Blom-Cooper stated, “The number of bedrooms and their layout, particularly bedrooms adjacent to communal kitchen and dining spaces, would not provide an acceptable level of amenity for future residents.” Additionally, she noted that increased activity and noise would have an unacceptable impact on nearby homes.
The Planning Inspectorate has confirmed the appeal will be decided via written representations, avoiding a public hearing. Interested parties can submit comments referencing appeal number 6008553 by June 3 at www.acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk.
This is not the first attempt to alter the property. A prior appeal by Hinkley Homes to increase bedrooms to nine was dismissed in October 2025. Additionally, a similar application to expand an HMO on nearby Rhode Lane was recently refused.
Meanwhile, a decision is awaited on proposals to build nine homes on the former Three Crowns public house site on St. Mary Street, near the Taunton Road HMO.