Strongvox Homes has submitted revised plans to build up to 160 new homes near Somerset’s Hinkley Point C nuclear power station. The Taunton-based developer is nearing completion of its Cricketer Farm project in Nether Stowey, where 109 homes are almost finished and planning permission is secured for 58 additional homes to the north.
Initially proposed in January 2014, the new development is planned for the village of Cannington, near Bridgwater, situated along the Brymore Way bypass that links the village to the Hinkley Point C site. The updated proposal maintains the original plan of 160 homes, with a decision from Somerset Council expected later this year.
The development will occupy land on the eastern side of the Cannington bypass, bordered by Sandy Lane to the north, Chad’s Hill to the east, and Withiel Drive to the south. Access will be from an existing spur off Brymore Way. Importantly, the development will connect to existing cycle paths along the road leading to the A39, and the public right of way to Chad’s Hill will be preserved.
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An emergency vehicle access route, controlled by bollards, will be constructed off Withiel Drive, which will also be resurfaced and redesigned to improve cycling access from the homes to the village’s shops and facilities on High Street. Of the planned 160 homes—ranging from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom houses—48 will be designated as affordable housing, fulfilling the council’s requirement of 30% affordable units in developments of ten homes or more within the former Sedgemoor district.
A spokesperson for Pegasus Planning, representing the developer, emphasized the village’s strong local amenities: “Cannington offers a wide array of everyday services including a health centre, convenience store, public houses, village hall, primary school, golf course, cricket club, churches, and play facilities, fostering a cohesive local community.”
The spokesperson added, “These proposals will not affect the availability of local jobs but will boost local economic activity through increased resident spending and create some jobs related to property maintenance and landscaping. During construction, approximately 496 direct and indirect jobs are expected to be supported.”
The demand for housing in Cannington has risen significantly since work began at Hinkley Point C, driven by thousands of workers seeking accommodation near Bridgwater. Recent developments include Crest Nicholson South West’s Grange Meadow, which delivered 73 homes at the village’s southern entrance, alongside a new Co-operative food store on Main Road.
Previously, Gladman Developments sought approval for 165 homes off Oak Tree Way, near the park and ride, but those plans were rejected by the Planning Inspectorate in late 2021. The Strongvox site was not part of the Sedgemoor Local Plan allocations, although it and other sites in Cannington may form part of consultations for the forthcoming Somerset Local Plan, expected in April 2029.
Somerset Council is anticipated to decide on the Strongvox housing scheme by the end of the year, although it is not yet confirmed whether the decision will be made by the planning committee in public or through delegated officer powers.