Taunton’s largest development, Orchard Grove, is poised for significant growth and transformation over the next year. Located between the A38 Wellington Road in Comeytrowe and Honiton Road in Trull, this expansive site is set to eventually provide 2,000 homes, becoming a key hub for new housing in the region.
The development is a collaborative effort by the Orchard Grove Consortium, which includes Taylor Wimpey, Bovis Homes, Linden Homes, and LiveWest. Construction has already delivered a new primary school on site, with ongoing work on commercial spaces, a care home, and a ‘park and bus’ facility on the western edge.
In the coming 12 months, residents can expect hundreds more homes to be built. Somerset Council is currently reviewing two planning applications for 208 new houses, which will expand the western neighborhood—an area that extends from the Wellington Road roundabout to the primary school.
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Taylor Wimpey’s proposal focuses on 164 homes along Egremont Road, which stretches across both sides of the main spine road. These homes will range from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom houses, with 27% designated as affordable housing, supported by grant funding from Homes England to increase affordable offerings beyond original plans.
Meanwhile, LiveWest plans to deliver 44 homes south of Egremont Road, bordered by the still open southern section of Lipe Hill Lane. Remarkably, 61% of these homes will be affordable, comprising a mix of flats and town-houses.
Deliveries within the Orchard Grove development have faced delays due to phosphate mitigation requirements imposed to protect the sensitive Somerset Levels and Moors. To progress, developers intend to purchase phosphate credits generated elsewhere in the River Tone catchment area, offsetting any net increase in phosphate levels and aiding environmental preservation.
The local council’s climate and place scrutiny committee is scheduled to discuss potential policy updates on December 15, following recent legal developments including a Supreme Court ruling impacting phosphate mitigation strategies.
In addition to housing, a significant portion of land adjacent to Egremont Road will remain undeveloped for a planned “local centre,” championed by Taunton and Wellington MP Gideon Amos. This area is envisioned to host essential community facilities such as a new medical centre, shops, and other amenities. Mr. Amos has actively lobbied government housing ministers to support the funding of this infrastructure, emphasizing the need to accelerate housing delivery and improve local services.
Projected costs for key infrastructure include approximately £55 million for a secondary school, £5 million to complete Egremont Road, and £4 million for the new health hub. The Consortium has expressed willingness to incorporate a health facility within the local centre, recognizing its benefits for current and future residents.
The NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB) has indicated preliminary talks with nearby medical providers regarding an expanded health presence in the area, though no formal planning application for a health centre has been submitted yet.
On the funding front, the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government has awarded Orchard Grove access to the new homes accelerator fund, designed to unblock development on large consented sites nationally. Notably, Orchard Grove was the only site in the South West to receive this support under the government’s post-2024 general election initiatives.
Further details on the fund’s allocation and spending remain forthcoming, as local authorities continue early-stage discussions with the government.
Beyond housing and infrastructure, the Consortium plans to enhance green spaces and community amenities throughout 2026. The recently opened ‘civic square’ offers a new public space, with upcoming artwork installations and benches slated to create an inviting community heart.
Accessibility improvements have also been made, including repositioning fencing along cycling paths to open routes and improve connections across the development, alongside enhancements at the park and ride entrance.
While the park and bus car park remains closed until formal adoption, these changes mark vital progress toward creating a vibrant, connected, and sustainable community for Taunton’s growing population.