Plans for Hortsbridge Park, the newest public green space within the Orchard Grove estate on Taunton’s western edge, are set to bring a vibrant community hub featuring an amphitheatre, allotments, and a large play area for older children. This initiative aligns with the wider Orchard Grove development, where 2,000 new homes are being built between the A38 Wellington Road and the nearby village of Trull.
The estate has already welcomed a new primary school and a ‘park and bus’ facility, with ongoing construction of commercial units and a care home at the western entrance. Now, the Orchard Grove consortium has submitted revised proposals for Hortsbridge Park, centrally located within the development. The plans include not only recreational and gardening spaces but also improved walking and cycling connections that link residents with various parts of the estate.
Hortsbridge Park will lie north of Egremont Road, flanked by Lipe Hill Lane to the west and Comeytrowe Road to the east near the primary school. The allotments, designed with accessibility in mind, will be situated just north of Egremont Road and feature raised beds to accommodate elderly and disabled gardeners, along with a facilities block that includes toilets. Vehicular access and parking will be provided close to the active travel route onto Lipe Hill Lane.
READ MORE: Bath City Shock Dorking Wanderers to Snap 13-Game Away Win Drought
READ MORE: Prankster Replaces Somerset Town Signs with French and Spanish Counterparts
On the park’s eastern side, across Galmington Stream, plans include a new amphitheatre accompanied by a sizable play area targeted at children aged eight and above. Proludic, a play equipment specialist from Nottingham involved in the design, emphasizes their commitment to inclusivity. They aim to create play environments where children of all physical, sensory, and cognitive abilities can engage together, fostering community spirit and social cohesion.
In addition to formal play areas, the park will feature a raised polymer boardwalk and bridge, weaving through natural spaces and connected by a network of shared footpaths and cycling routes. These paths enhance accessibility between the park, new homes, and smaller pocket parks throughout the estate. The design also includes improvements to pedestrian safety, with a planned crossing on Comeytrowe Road near Lloyd Close linking the park to an active travel route that leads toward Taunton town centre and Musgrove Park Hospital—part of the town’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP).
Representatives from Boyer Planning, advising developer Taylor Wimpey, describe the amendments as refined design adjustments rather than major changes to the original development blueprint. Somerset Council is set to review and decide on these updated plans by summer, moving closer to delivering a diverse, accessible green space that complements the growing community in this part of Taunton.