Revised plans for a new housing development threaten to surround the small Somerset cricket club, Trull Cricket Club, with new homes on three sides. Located on the southern side of Dipford Road, just outside the main village of Trull and close to the Orchard Grove housing development on Taunton’s western edge, the club could soon find itself enveloped by residential construction.
Trull LVA LLP initially proposed the development in October 2024. The plan, combined with the completion of Orchard Grove, would enclose the cricket club with housing on its north, west, and east sides. After receiving feedback from local residents, the land promoter submitted revised proposals. Somerset Council is expected to decide whether to approve the project within the next six months.
Access to the new homes will be via a new junction off Dipford Road, situated west of the cricket club. The majority of the 130 homes will occupy the central and eastern portions of the site. A green buffer, featuring a children’s play area, an orchard, and attenuation ponds designed to reduce flood risk, will separate the western edge of the development from nearby countryside.
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Of the planned homes, 33 will be affordable dwellings, complying with Somerset Council’s planning requirements for the area formerly known as Taunton Deane. Public rights of way running through the site will be upgraded, along with a new pedestrian link connecting the development to the easternmost homes in Orchard Grove near the planned Honiton Road roundabout.
The development is expected to contribute over £812,000 to local infrastructure projects, on top of nearly £367,000 earmarked for improvements to nearby schools and an additional £117,000 for public open spaces and leisure facilities, according to initial consultation documents.
A spokesperson for Prospect Design Studio, representing the Sherborne-based promoter, explained: “The site enjoys easy access to nearby shops, schools, and amenities. Situated on the southwestern edge of the approved Comeytrowe urban extension, it benefits from the expanding facilities and services there. These proposals demonstrate that approximately 130 dwellings can be accommodated alongside open spaces, retained trees and hedgerows, informal public areas, and sustainable drainage systems.
“The development is linked to the surrounding area by an extensive network of footpaths, including new connections that will enhance accessibility for both new residents and the existing community. This site represents a logical extension to the Comeytrowe urban development, currently underway, contributing to the creation of a new neighborhood.”
Since Trull lies within the River Tone catchment area, any development must ensure no net increase in phosphate levels, to protect the fragile Somerset Levels and Moors. To achieve compliance, the developer plans to buy phosphate credits generated by fallowing agricultural land elsewhere within the catchment.
Local residents have voiced concerns about the impact of rapid housing growth. George Sherwin of Honiton Road expressed worries about the strain on infrastructure, particularly schools. “Children in Trull are already facing challenges getting into local secondary schools due to the influx of new residents. We need time to assess how current housing affects roads, schools, drainage, and medical facilities,” he said.
Similarly, C. Harris from nearby Poundisford highlighted issues with local road capacity and services. “Dipford Road is narrow with poor access, especially at the Honiton Road junction which has limited visibility. The village school is already oversubscribed with no room to expand, even if funding is available. College Way Surgery cannot take any more patients currently. This development risks taking more green fields and further blurring boundaries with the adjoining Comeytrowe estate,” he stated.
In addition to Orchard Grove and the Dipford Road site, other significant development proposals in the Trull area include plans for 125 homes on Comeytrowe Road submitted by BSL Strategic Ltd., and a pending application for 145 homes plus a community hub west of Honiton Road by Broadlands Twenty Twelve, initially filed in early 2015.
Somerset Council aims to decide on the Dipford Road housing plans by Christmas 2024, marking a critical moment for the future of Trull Cricket Club and the wider community.