Plans for the Staplegrove urban extension—a significant housing and commercial development on Taunton’s north-western edge—are moving forward, with an anticipated 60 weeks of major roadworks required to support the infrastructure.
The new community will eventually feature 1,628 homes, commercial facilities, and a primary school on land situated between the A358 Staplegrove Road and Taunton Road. In late June, Somerset Council’s planning committee approved modifications to Staplegrove Road to facilitate access to the western half of the development, which includes 713 homes and an employment site. One key change involves replacing the Silk Mills roundabout with a signal-controlled junction and widening Staplegrove Road.
Highway officials revealed in late July that the road improvements and associated works may take over a year to complete. To minimize traffic disruption, the construction timeline is planned to be extended, maintaining two-way traffic flow throughout the works.
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Bloor Homes recently submitted plans for the next phase in the western section, involving 239 homes. However, the council has yet to confirm a start date for the crucial roadworks necessary to unlock this phase.
Phase 1A of Staplegrove West focuses on creating a new road junction, upgrading the surrounding road network, and establishing a landscaped buffer zone known as ‘West Hill Park’. Permission for this phase was granted in July 2022, with revisions currently under separate planning review.
Phase 1B involves delivering 239 homes along a new spine road that will ultimately connect Staplegrove Road and Taunton Road. Of these homes, 203 will be market-rate properties ranging from three to five bedrooms, while 21 are designated for social rent and 15 for shared ownership.
The development will also feature green spaces such as ‘Rectory Green’ and ‘Rag Hill Park’, alongside future road connections to the employment area near Rectory Road.
Carney Sweeney, representing the developer, emphasized the design’s focus on community identity and connectivity. The site will incorporate pedestrian and cycle pathways linked to the spine road and adjacent neighborhoods.
Somerset Council expects to decide on these plans by spring 2026. Notably, construction cannot proceed until the spine road and upgrades to the A358 are completed.
Significant earthworks will reshape the northern section of the spine road to accommodate the land’s steep slope. The Silk Mills roundabout, a key junction linking the A358 to local routes, will be replaced with a three-way signalized junction. The A358 will also be widened with added lanes and shared pedestrian and cycle paths.
The project will require removing some existing trees and footpath space near Grove Gate and Nash Green estates. To protect both new roadworks and existing homes, a large retaining wall will be built along Staplegrove Road’s southern edge. The Nash Green footpath will be enhanced with new steps and ramp access leading to Mill Rise.
Despite these extensive plans, Somerset Council confirmed on October 1 that there is currently no confirmed start date or work schedule. Jon Fellingham, the council’s highways development service manager, reassured that efforts are underway to avoid conflicting roadworks and minimize traffic disruption.
Fellingham explained, “Although the overall program spans approximately 60 weeks, extending the timeline allows us to maintain smoother traffic flow. This approach reduces the risk of severe congestion during construction and coordinates better with other ongoing road projects.”