Plans for 15 additional affordable homes within Bridgwater Gateway, one of Bridgwater’s largest housing developments, have been approved by Somerset Council’s planning committee. The new homes will be built north of Carnival Way, near existing industrial units, Lidl supermarket, and newly opened Domino’s Pizza and Greggs outlets.
Originally, BoKlok Housing Ltd. received planning permission in February 2024 to build 361 homes on the site located north of the A38 Taunton Road in North Petherton. The land was later sold to Keepmoat Homes, which, alongside housing association LiveWest, updated the plans to maintain the same number of homes. The planning committee unanimously approved the revised, more traditional-designed housing in May 2025.
The 15 newly approved flats include four two-bedroom shared ownership units and 11 one- and two-bedroom social rent flats, prioritizing local residents through the Homefinder Somerset system. This addition raises the total affordable homes in the Bridgwater Gateway to 51, with Keepmoat and LiveWest responsible for the central and eastern areas, and Vistry Partnerships delivering 150 homes on the western edge.
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Beyond housing, the development will contribute over £212,000 to local GP surgeries, potentially benefiting the Somerset Bridge Medical Centre or North Petherton Surgery, which may be redeveloped alongside a proposed new housing scheme.
Despite the approval, local representatives raised concerns about the cumulative traffic impact. Paul Herbert of North Petherton Town Council highlighted that the transport assessment is outdated, predating much recent and planned development, and warned of continued severe congestion on the already overloaded A38. Councillor Alan Bradford acknowledged the area’s housing growth but questioned the capacity of the road network to handle increased traffic. Bradford also expressed reservations about the three-story building within the site, preferring uniform building heights.
Councillor Hilary Bruce voiced concerns about the clustering of social housing, advocating for a more evenly distributed approach within the development.
Following about 30 minutes of debate, the committee approved the plans with a vote of nine to one, moving the project closer to construction commencement, potentially before Christmas.