Somerset’s health authorities have clarified that there are currently no plans to develop a new NHS health facility near the M5 motorway in Taunton.
The Blackbrook Business Park, located by junction 25 of the M5, already hosts several health services, including the Taunton Diagnostic Centre, Lakeside Dental Practice, and Confident Orthodontics. Recently, Summerfield Developments, a local property firm, began marketing the last undeveloped 1.9-acre plot within the park, touting it as an excellent opportunity to expand healthcare offerings in the region.
However, the NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB) has confirmed that no talks have taken place with Summerfield Developments regarding the site, and there are no immediate plans to establish NHS services there.
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The site lies opposite the Taunton Diagnostic Centre—operated by Alliance Healthcare since 2022—offering both NHS and private diagnostic services. It is bordered by the motorway to the east and the Blackbrook Leisure Centre and Spa to the south, accessible via a public footpath.
Ben Trickey, Commercial Director at Summerfield Developments, emphasized the site’s strategic advantages, calling it a “prime opportunity” for healthcare or medical operators to create a purpose-built facility in a highly accessible location, surrounded by existing healthcare services.
NHS Somerset oversees the commissioning of health services across the county, including new dental and general practice facilities. The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) is piloting neighborhood health services—known as health hubs—that consolidate multiple NHS services under one roof. However, Somerset was not included among the 43 areas selected for this initiative.
A spokesperson for NHS Somerset reiterated: “We are unaware of any discussions with Summerfield Developments or any proposals for a healthcare facility on this land.”