To ensure ongoing progress on one of Somerset’s largest housing developments, new wetlands are set to be created near the River Parrett. Taylor Wimpey Exeter is currently building the first phase of the Wool Gardens development on the Crewkerne Key Site, which ultimately will include 635 homes, commercial spaces, and a care home between the A30 Yeovil Road and A356 Station Road.
Crewkerne falls within the River Parrett catchment area, where phosphate management is critical to preserving the delicate ecosystem of the Somerset Levels and Moors. As part of the development’s environmental mitigation, Taylor Wimpey has proposed constructing wetlands on the Viney Brook to filter phosphate-rich water before it reaches the River Parrett.
These wetlands will be located on the eastern edge of Crewkerne near Higher Easthams Lane, with access primarily via Station Road. The system is designed to remove high quantities of phosphates from the Viney Brook, protecting the wider catchment area and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations. Approval from Somerset Council is expected later this year.
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The new wetlands will facilitate the timely delivery of Wool Gardens’ northern development phase and could serve as a “nutrient credit bank” to support other housing projects within the River Parrett catchment area. Taylor Wimpey emphasizes that the plan aligns with South Somerset Local Plan policies and addresses the urgent need for phosphate mitigation and housing growth across Somerset.
The wetlands site intersects two popular long-distance walking routes—the River Parrett Trail and the Monarch’s Way. While John Tennant, chairman of the Monarch’s Way Association, welcomes the biodiversity benefits, he has raised concerns about how walkers will be safely accommodated during construction and potential impacts on the natural valley shape and water levels. Tennessee also worries about ongoing maintenance of footpath space and overgrowth after the wetlands are established.
Taylor Wimpey has committed to installing timber bridges within the wetlands to maintain public access along these trails both during and after construction.
Crewkerne is poised for significant expansion in coming years. Alongside the Wool Gardens project, Place Land LLP is seeking approval for 325 homes near Crewkerne’s railway station, which would include a transport hub and improved rail parking. In addition, 145 homes were approved on the Maple Grove site, with another 46 homes planned for the former Viney Bridge Mill site.
Somerset Council’s final decision on the wetlands creation is anticipated by summer, with the outcome playing a crucial role in the future of housing development and environmental conservation in the area.