Residents of a once-peaceful street in Taunton are enduring what they describe as “five more years of torture” due to escalating construction activity nearby. The work is part of a large development project on the Staplegrove West site, also known as Quantock Park, where plans have been approved for 713 homes, including commercial space and a major new spine road connecting the A358 Staplegrove Road to Whitmore Lane.
Bloor Homes South West is leading the construction effort, currently building the first phase of 242 homes and installing an attenuation pond near Rectory Road, designed to prevent flooding in the surrounding Staplegrove area. However, nearby residents, particularly those living in Hillhead Cottages, have voiced significant concerns about the environmental and living condition impacts.
Carol Pearce, a resident of Hillhead Cottages, has spoken out against Bloor Homes and their contractors, accusing them of exposing and damaging century-old hedges and blanketing local homes and gardens with “thick red dust.” She worries that the construction is destroying habitat essential for wildlife, including native trees, shrubs, and endangered red-listed birds such as goldfinches and greenfinches, as well as sparrows.
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Ms. Pearce highlighted that the attenuation pond is being dug perilously close to this valuable hedge, risking its destruction despite protective measures supposedly agreed upon during the planning stages. She added, “The work has created a dust bowl, choking the leaves and covering everything in red dust — homes, cars, gardens — making it unbearable.”
While Bloor Homes committed to using water bowsers to suppress dust around the site, Ms. Pearce claims these measures are rarely implemented effectively. She describes a cycle where residents continuously raise concerns, contractors respond briefly with remedial actions, only for the dust and noise to resume. The noise and vibrations from early morning bulldozer work, sometimes starting at 7am, further disrupt residents’ daily lives — even breaching agreed planning conditions.
Although Ms. Pearce acknowledges that Bloor Homes had been forthcoming and responsive during early community consultations, she feels the contractors on-site have often ignored reasonable requests for environmental protection and noise control. “We’re not against development — we understand the need for housing — but it shouldn’t fall on us to monitor contractors and protect our environment,” she stated.
Bloor Homes South West responded by confirming their awareness of residents' concerns. An on-site inspection found that excavation of the pond has followed approved plans, with GPS used for precision. They noted that the hedge has grown since initial site drawings, making the pond seem closer to it than it actually is. An independent ecologist was scheduled to assess any potential impact on the hedge, and until then, work near the hedge is paused.
Additionally, Bloor Homes has increased dust suppression efforts by upgrading from a small bowser to a tractor with a large water bowser to better control dust on haul roads amid dry weather. The company assured that once pond construction completes by July 10, topsoil will be graded and hydroseeded to stabilize soil and nourish roots. They reiterated their commitment to community feedback and said immediate actions are underway to minimize disruption.
As construction presses on, Hillhead Cottages residents face ongoing challenges amid this vast urban extension, which will eventually transform their rural surroundings into a large housing estate, marking a dramatic change to their once tranquil neighborhood.