A significant housing development near the M5 in Somerset could see nearly 350 new homes added if plans by developer C. G. Fry and Son Ltd. receive local council approval. The Jurston Fields project, located on A38 West Buckland Road in Wellington, is strategically adjacent to the Westpark 26 business park and the recently upgraded Chelston Link Road.
Initially granted outline planning permission by Taunton Deane Borough Council in 2015 for up to 650 homes, the development also includes provisions for a new primary school and community facilities. The developer now seeks revised permission to build an additional 335 homes on the remaining phases of the site, pushing the total number to 718.
Phases one and two, totaling 193 homes, have already been completed, while phase three, consisting of 190 homes, is currently under construction following approval in 2020. However, phase three is facing an ongoing legal challenge concerning phosphate mitigation, with a Supreme Court ruling expected by late 2025.
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C. G. Fry revealed plans for the four remaining phases—phases four through seven—which will add 335 homes, including 67 more than originally outlined. These phases will focus on the eastern half of the site, extending from existing homes on Aspin Close southward toward West Buckland Road.
The new homes will include 84 affordable units, notably with many one-bedroom properties, alongside public open spaces featuring a pump track and children’s play areas. Consistent with earlier plans, the eastern boundary will maintain green buffers, including allotments and woodland, serving as a natural separation from the expanding Westpark 26 site.
Learning from earlier phases, the developer has revised the masterplan to create thoughtful urban design with increased tree planting, varied housing layouts emphasizing gardens, and architectural details reflecting Wellington’s character. Measures will ensure public spaces are overlooked for safety, and sensitive buffers are maintained along site boundaries.
Given the development’s location within the River Tone catchment, stringent phosphate mitigation measures are necessary to protect the Somerset Levels and Moors. The developer plans to purchase phosphate credits until infrastructure upgrades at local treatment works are completed by 2030, which will allow increased phosphate capture.
Somerset Council is anticipated to make a final decision on the proposals by spring 2026. Due to the project’s scale, approval will likely be determined in a public planning committee meeting rather than through delegated officers.
If approved, construction on the northernmost phase could commence by the end of 2026, with initial homes possibly ready by 2027—coinciding with the planned opening of Wellington’s new railway station. The full development is expected to be complete and occupied by 2032, providing much-needed housing and community amenities in the region.