Taunton’s newest public green space, Hortsbridge Park, is set to become a vibrant community hub if the latest revised plans receive approval. Located within the expansive Orchard Grove estate on the town’s western edge, the park will offer residents a variety of facilities including an amphitheatre, allotments with an attached community building, and a large play area designed for older children.
Orchard Grove, a rapidly developing neighborhood, will eventually include 2,000 homes situated between Wellington Road (A38) and Honiton Road near the village of Trull. The estate already boasts a new primary school and a ‘park and bus’ facility, with ongoing construction of commercial spaces and a care home at the development’s western entrance.
The proposed Hortsbridge Park will be centrally positioned north of Egremont Road. Nestled between Lipe Hill Lane to the west and Comeytrowe Road and the primary school to the east, the park aims to blend recreational, community, and environmental features seamlessly.
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Key highlights include allotments placed just north of Egremont Road, featuring raised beds accessible to elderly and disabled users along with a facilities block equipped with toilets. A new vehicular access and parking area near Lipe Hill Lane’s active travel link will support these allotments.
At the eastern end of the park, beyond Galmington Stream, plans call for a new amphitheatre paired with a large play area catering to children aged eight and older. Proludic, a Nottingham-based specialist in play equipment, has emphasized that the designs prioritize inclusivity—ensuring children of all abilities can enjoy the space equally, fostering community engagement, social inclusion, and stronger neighborhood bonds.
The park will also showcase a raised polymer boardwalk and bridge, interlaced with shared footpaths and cycle routes to connect seamlessly with the surrounding homes and other pocket parks within Orchard Grove.
Enhancements include a safer pedestrian crossing on Comeytrowe Road near Lloyd Close, linking to an active travel route toward Taunton’s town center via Musgrove Park Hospital. This route forms part of the town’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) ‘blue route’.
A representative from Boyer Planning, acting on behalf of developer Taylor Wimpey, noted that these revisions are “modest in scale” and primarily refine the design without making substantive changes to the original scheme.
Somerset Council is anticipated to review and decide on the revised plans by this summer, potentially bringing a new vibrant and inclusive green space to the Taunton community.