Residents of Stoke St. Mary, a small village in Somerset, are rallying against plans to build a new town of approximately 7,000 homes near their community. The proposal, put forward by developer Taylor Wimpey, aims to create a large development east of Taunton Racecourse as part of the Somerset Local Plan, which guides housing and employment allocations up to 2045.
While Taylor Wimpey has promised to safeguard areas closest to the Blackdown Hills, a designated National Landscape, local campaigners argue that the project threatens to erase the distinct rural character of the region. The newly formed ‘Save the Blackdown Vale’ campaign warns that the so-called “garden village” will lead to uncontrolled urban sprawl and irreparable damage to Somerset’s valued countryside.
The campaign launched at a packed meeting in Stoke St. Mary Village Hall on July 15, urging residents to submit formal objections before the consultation period ends on July 24. Colin Fisher, a campaign spokesperson, emphasized the importance of community input: “This development would obliterate the Blackdown Vale, a treasured landscape that must be preserved—not covered in concrete.”
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The development site, primarily located within Orchard Portman parish and bordering Stoke St. Mary and West Hatch, overlaps slightly with the Blackdown Hills boundaries, impacting ancient woodlands like Netherclay and Thurlbear. Taylor Wimpey submitted the site for Local Plan inclusion in early 2025 during the council’s ‘call for sites’ process.
Campaigner Rob Hossel highlighted the need for growth that respects Somerset’s rural identity: “Residents want sustainable organic development that integrates with communities—not projects that drastically alter the character of the area.”
Though the masterplan remains unpublished, the proposal reportedly includes new primary and secondary schools with special needs facilities, a healthcare hub, commercial spaces, affordable housing, and dedicated transit routes to Taunton town center. Taylor Wimpey also claims that over half the site will remain green space dedicated to recreation, biodiversity, and agriculture, while excluding housing in the Blackdown Hills zone.
Among the opposition is Rebecca Pow, former Taunton Deane MP and ex-environment minister, who warned, “This farmland is some of Somerset’s best and critical for future food security. Once lost, it cannot be reclaimed. Additionally, ancient woodland and sites of special scientific interest nearby would be at risk.”
The Somerset Local Plan consultation concludes July 24, with responses summarized in November. Further consultation rounds are planned for 2027 and 2028, leading to a final adoption of the plan in March 2029, pending Planning Inspectorate approval.