Construction on nearly 300 new homes at Chard’s northern edge may commence as early as February 2027, pending approval of revised plans submitted by Taylor Wimpey. The development, originally granted outline planning permission in November 2024, aims to deliver 295 homes alongside a new stadium for Chard Town Football Club.
Initially planned by McTaggart & Mickel Homes England Ltd. and the S. E. Blackburn Discretionary Trust, the site between Crimchard and Thorndun Park Drive has since changed hands to Taylor Wimpey. The company has submitted a reserved matters application that maintains the original housing number while providing a detailed timeline for delivery.
Somerset Council is expected to rule on the updated proposals by autumn 2026. If approved, housing construction will start in early 2027 and continue through late 2033. The residential development will be split into two main areas: a western parcel with allotments, an orchard, and a children’s play area, and an eastern parcel featuring a playground for older children and two community football pitches, including facilities available for Chard Town FC training.
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The housing mix will include one-bedroom flats up to four-bedroom houses, with 35% of the properties—approximately 103 units—designated as affordable housing in line with the outline consent. Vehicular access will be provided mainly via Thorndun Park Drive, with pedestrian connections upgraded to link with nearby Crimchard and Cuttiford’s Door.
The new floodlit stadium, complete with a clubhouse and dedicated parking, is planned at the center of the site, expected to start construction by mid-2028 and open in time for the 2029-30 football season. Complementing the stadium will be a neighborhood center offering community amenities such as a small shop or hub.
Taylor Wimpey’s representative from Woolf Bond Planning described the proposal as “an entirely acceptable form of development” that aligns with the original outline, ensuring a design that respects the character of the local area.
Taylor Wimpey is an active developer in the region, currently working on Wool Gardens in Crewkerne and participating in the Orchard Grove project on Taunton’s western edge.
The development rollout will follow a phased approach. Initial work will focus on residential construction, roads, walking and cycling routes, and community sports pitches. Play areas must be completed before 25% of homes are occupied, and pedestrian/cycle links and pitches before 50% of occupancy, as stipulated in the planning agreements.
The second phase will tackle the stadium and associated facilities from mid-2028, while the third phase, beginning around July 2028, will develop the neighborhood center and remaining open spaces.
Due to the project’s scale, the planning decision will likely be taken publicly by Somerset Council’s planning committee south this autumn rather than through officer delegation. Detailed designs for the stadium and community center will be submitted separately later in the year.