NHS leaders in Somerset face growing calls to press housing developers to provide adequate funding for Bridgwater’s overburdened health services. The town is undergoing rapid housing expansion fueled by the construction of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, the new £4 billion ‘gigafactory’ between Puriton and Woolavington, and continued development unaffected by the phosphates crisis stalling projects elsewhere in Somerset.
Liz Browne, a registered nurse and Bridgwater Without Parish Council member, has sharply criticized Somerset Council for allowing developers to evade their financial responsibilities toward local NHS funding. These contributions are vital for expanding GP surgeries and improving access to appointments amid rising patient numbers.
Ms. Browne has urged the NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB) to exert stronger pressure on both the council and developers to secure the necessary healthcare contributions tied to housing projects. The ICB, responsible for allocating health funds across Somerset, acknowledges the urgent need to “manage the impact” of extensive housing growth and plans to push for greater developer funding under the forthcoming Somerset-wide Local Plan.
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Speaking at the ICB meeting in Glastonbury on November 27, Ms. Browne highlighted the scale of the challenge: “East Bridgwater alone expects an influx of approximately 4,000 patients from new housing over the next decade, with many approvals surpassing Local Plan targets. Local GP practices unanimously agree they cannot absorb this surge without risking patient care due to insufficient infrastructure and funding.”
She emphasized that appointment wait times have already reached clinically unacceptable levels, with the added pressure likely to worsen health outcomes and burden secondary care services. Compounding the issue, local authorities often permit developers to reduce their NHS contributions based on viability assessments, undermining needed healthcare investment.
Current developments include 260 homes underway at Strawberry Grange by Countryside Partnerships, with outline permission granted for an additional 530 homes at Folletts Farm and a further 750 proposed at Strawberry Grange’s northern extension. These large-scale projects include new schools and road infrastructure but also create steep demands on medical services.
Ms. Browne criticized the ICB’s use of Office for National Statistics (ONS) data alone to forecast population growth, noting it neglects local housing approvals and does not account for fast-moving development trends. She described the ICB’s funding from central government as reactive and insufficient, failing to match resources with the shifting patient population in real time.
Importantly, NHS funding from developers is restricted to capital expenditures, such as constructing or enlarging GP premises, and cannot cover operational costs like staff salaries. While the ICB is reviewing primary care provision aligned with the NHS ten-year plan, Ms. Browne questioned whether this would be swift and effective enough to meet “exponential demand.”
She urged the ICB and NHS to collaborate with local authorities to ensure housebuilders meet their financial obligations for healthcare mitigation. Additionally, she called for lobbying to regulate the timing of major developments to avoid triggering a healthcare crisis and to elevate these concerns as strategic priorities.
ICB Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bernie Marden stressed the need for a comprehensive approach to local health provision to meet Bridgwater’s growing demands. A new diagnostic centre on Bower Lane is currently under construction, designed to reduce patient travel to Musgrove Park Hospital by providing additional tests and scans locally.
Dr. Marden acknowledged the strain on primary care caused by housing developments. While investment through planning agreements is a national issue, Somerset is taking steps to support local practices. Many GP surgeries already exceed recommended patient capacity, with further housing intensifying the shortfall.
He confirmed that the ICB and Somerset Council are working to have housing growth impacts recognized, though current systems lack a direct mechanism linking planning approvals to healthcare infrastructure funding. With government housing targets accelerating, Dr. Marden emphasized the importance of managing these pressures at every level.
Looking ahead, the ICB will advise on healthcare needs during the Somerset Local Plan’s creation, with public consultations anticipated in spring 2026. In the meantime, the ICB reviews planning applications to seek Section 106 funding when primary care capacity is affected. Recent upgrades include new consulting rooms at East Quay Medical Centre, with similar improvements underway at Polden Medical Practice and other locations across Somerset.