Taunton’s MP, Gideon Amos, is advocating for the construction of a secondary school and a health hub to complement the existing primary school and other infrastructure at Orchard Grove, the town’s largest housing estate. Located on the western edge of Somerset’s county town, Orchard Grove will eventually feature 2,000 homes between Wellington Road (A38) and Honiton Road near the village of Trull.
To date, a new primary school has been built within the development. Commercial spaces, a park-and-ride bus facility, and Egremont Road—the estate’s spine road—are currently under construction. Egremont Road will eventually connect Wellington Road to a new roundabout near Honiton Road, facilitating access to the development.
However, the pace of progress has been hampered by several challenges. The “phosphates crisis,” requiring developers to mitigate the environmental impact on the Somerset Levels and Moors, has delayed further construction on the eastern section of Orchard Grove. Meanwhile, rising mortgage rates following the 2022 economic turmoil caused a slowdown in home sales.
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Mr Amos, elected in July 2024 and serving as the Liberal Democrats’ housing and planning spokesperson, has appealed to the government for funding to accelerate delivery. He highlights three critical infrastructure projects: the £55 million secondary school, a £4 million health hub, and the final £5 million stretch of Egremont Road. Completing these would unlock further housing development and improve community services.
The MP’s call comes amid local health pressures, intensified by the permanent closure of Luson Surgery in Wellington, which shifts additional healthcare demand onto nearby areas like Orchard Grove. Mr Amos emphasizes the importance of an NHS facility on-site to meet growing needs.
Developers Taylor Wimpey, Bovis Homes, Linden Homes, and LiveWest have expressed support for a healthcare facility within Orchard Grove’s designated local centre, noting it would benefit residents. However, they contend that educational obligations have already been met with the primary school’s delivery. The completion of the spine road will proceed in phases, contingent on home construction milestones.
Somerset Council is actively seeking government support through the New Homes Accelerator Fund to boost housing delivery across sites including Orchard Grove. Discussions with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government are ongoing to address infrastructure funding challenges.
NHS Somerset, the integrated care board overseeing healthcare in the area, reports preliminary talks regarding expanding existing practices nearby but currently has no firm plans or funding allocated for a new health hub at Orchard Grove. Any new medical facility would require a comprehensive needs assessment and sustainable funding.
As Orchard Grove continues to develop, local authorities and health services remain engaged to ensure infrastructure keeps pace with housing growth and community needs.