Taunton’s largest development site, Orchard Grove, is poised for significant transformation over the next 12 months as hundreds of new homes and vital community facilities move closer to completion. Situated between the A38 Wellington Road in Comeytrowe and Honiton Road in Trull, this ambitious project is being delivered by the Orchard Grove Consortium—including Taylor Wimpey, Bovis Homes, Linden Homes, and LiveWest—and will ultimately comprise 2,000 homes.
A new primary school is already operational within the site, and construction is underway for commercial spaces, a care home, and a ‘park and bus’ facility at the western edge. Over the coming year, residents can expect to see additional homes added to the community. Somerset Council is currently reviewing two planning applications for a combined total of 208 new houses, signaling rapid expansion.
Approximately 350 homes have been completed in the ‘western neighbourhood,’ which stretches from the Wellington Road roundabout to the primary school. Planned developments include two parcels of land either side of Egremont Road, west of Lipe Hill Line, which has been closed to traffic to provide a safer walking and cycling route to the school for nearby residents.
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The larger proposal by Taylor Wimpey includes 164 homes, ranging from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom houses. Notably, 27 percent of these will be affordable homes, with additional grant funding from Homes England enabling the delivery of more affordable units than initially planned. The smaller plan by LiveWest entails 44 homes south of Egremont Road, including 61 percent affordable housing, comprising one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom townhouses.
Progress has faced delays due to phosphate mitigation requirements, as developments must prevent any net increase in phosphates affecting the Somerset Levels and Moors. To mitigate this, developers plan to purchase phosphate credits generated elsewhere within the River Tone catchment area. Discussions on phosphate policy changes are expected soon following recent legal developments.
A significant portion of land along Egremont Road remains undeveloped to accommodate a ‘local centre.’ MP Gideon Amos has advocated for this area to include a new medical centre, shops, and other amenities. In recent correspondence with the housing minister, Mr. Amos emphasized the urgent need for government funding to support essential infrastructure, including a secondary school estimated to cost £55 million, Egremont Road completion at £5 million, and a £4 million health hub.
The Orchard Grove Consortium supports incorporating a local health facility within this centre, recognizing the benefit it would bring to the growing community. However, no formal planning application for the health centre has been submitted, as it requires commissioning by the NHS Somerset integrated care board (ICB), which is currently exploring options.
In September 2025, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government announced funding through the new homes accelerator fund to unlock further infrastructure at Orchard Grove. This site was the only one in the South West selected for this support, aimed at overcoming barriers to development on large consented projects nationwide.
In addition to infrastructure and housing, the consortium has confirmed that 2026 will bring expanded green spaces and community facilities. The recently opened ‘civic square’ offers a welcoming public area with planned artwork and benches to enhance the community’s social hub. Improvements to pedestrian and cycle routes, including the removal of fencing, have improved accessibility and created a friendlier entrance to the park and bus facility, though the car park remains closed until officially adopted.
These developments mark significant steps toward creating a well-connected, vibrant neighbourhood for both new and existing residents, positioning Orchard Grove as a major cornerstone in Taunton’s future growth.