North Petherton, a growing town in Somerset near the M5, is set to see hundreds of new homes built before its much-needed new GP surgery becomes a reality. Somerset Council is currently reviewing plans to construct a new medical centre as part of a proposed development on Taunton Road, which includes 64 homes, a scout hut, and a cricket pitch.
While the council aims to decide on these outline proposals by early summer, allowing home construction to start before year-end, the new doctors' surgery will require a separate application and approval, pushing its delivery date to 2027 at the earliest. This timeline means that more patients will rely on the existing North Petherton Surgery on Church Walk, which is already under increasing pressure.
Back in September 2020, Somerset health authorities identified the North Petherton Surgery as one of 14 local practices needing expansion or relocation due to anticipated housing growth. Temporary portable buildings were added in 2021 during the pandemic and again in early 2024 to boost capacity, with permission granted in July 2024 to keep these units in place until 2029 if necessary.
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The new medical centre site has been allocated by West of England Developments within the Taunton Road project, positioned near the recently completed Carrots Farm estate and adjacent to planned access for a solar farm along the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal. While West of England Developments will handle the housing construction, the NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB) will oversee the building of the surgery, funded through contributions from housing developments. However, the council and ICB have yet to disclose how much funding has been pooled so far.
A council spokesperson explained that final decisions on infrastructure funding and delivery are part of the ongoing planning process and legal agreements between the developer and NHS are typically concluded after planning approvals.
Housing expansion in North Petherton is robust. Three new estates with 235 homes have been completed in the town’s south, narrowing the green space near the rugby club. At the northern end of the parish, plans are underway to deliver up to 511 homes as part of the Bridgwater Gateway development near the M5 junction 24.
Additional plans are advancing, including 140 new homes proposed by Bloor Homes on Dancing Hill, 175 homes by North Petherton LVA LLP near Daws Lane, and 190 homes by Gladman Developments between Newton Road and the M5, pending approval.
If these developments proceed by 2026, North Petherton could gain over 500 new homes shortly—many occupied well before the new GP surgery opens.
The council has not set a date for the GP surgery application to be reviewed and declined to specify how many homes must be occupied before the medical centre construction is triggered. Infrastructure delivery timelines are typically governed by Section 106 agreements, but details remain unavailable.
The growing housing demand, fueled by local projects like Hinkley Point C and a forthcoming gigafactory, underscores the urgency for expanded healthcare facilities. Yet, current delays mean residents may face increased pressure on primary care services for years to come.