Taunton’s largest new housing estate, Orchard Grove, is making significant strides toward becoming a fully functional community, with key developments already completed and plans underway to secure essential communal facilities.
Situated between the A38 Wellington Road in Taunton’s Comeytrowe area and Honiton Road in the neighboring village of Trull, Orchard Grove is a vast development by the Orchard Grove Consortium, which includes Taylor Wimpey, Bovis Homes, Linden Homes, and LiveWest. Once complete, the site will offer 2,000 new homes.
So far, a new primary school and a convenient ‘park and bus’ facility have been delivered to support the residents. Construction is ongoing for commercial spaces and a 68-bed care home near the estate’s western entrance. A new ‘civic square’ off Egremont Road opened on July 11, creating a social focal point within the neighbourhood.
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Despite these advances, challenges remain regarding the establishment of a community hub. Somerset Council planning officers previously indicated that retail and community services within the estate’s designated ‘local centre’ might not become viable until around 1,000 homes are occupied. Likewise, a new secondary school is not expected until at least 2030.
To address this gap proactively, Taunton Town Council has pledged £25,000 for a feasibility study exploring the creation of a community hub within Orchard Grove’s ‘local centre,’ located around Egremont Road. This hub would serve the immediate needs of the growing population before the full complement of homes is completed.
Senior planning officer Simon Fox highlighted the current limitations, noting the low number of residents and passing traffic within this cul-de-sac style site makes it difficult for shops or services to thrive at present.
The upcoming feasibility study will evaluate local demand, land requirements, potential layouts, estimated costs, funding possibilities, and necessary planning permissions. Any final proposals will require approval from the town council before proceeding to Somerset Council for planning consent.
Councillor Nick O’Donnell, chairing the town council’s operations and assets committee, emphasized the importance of this initiative: “This demonstrates our commitment to planning for the future while making practical improvements that benefit residents today. The Orchard Grove feasibility study is an important step in understanding how we can provide the community facilities that a growing neighbourhood needs.”
Currently, Orchard Grove residents access community halls and other amenities by driving, using the park and bus facility, or walking and cycling into Taunton town centre. The established walking and cycling route, part of Taunton’s local cycling and walking infrastructure plan (LCWIP), connects the neighbourhood through Comeytrowe and along Galmington Stream, leading toward the town centre and Musgrove Park Hospital. However, some sections require navigation through residential streets.
In early 2026, Somerset Council consulted on a proposal to convert part of Comeytrowe Road near Lloyd Close into a ‘green lane’—limiting motorised traffic to encourage walking and cycling. The council expects to review the consultation feedback by the end of summer to decide on future interventions.
As Orchard Grove develops, these combined efforts signal a promising future where community infrastructure keeps pace with housing growth, ensuring residents benefit from accessible services and vibrant public spaces.