A small village near Somerset is poised for significant growth, with proposals to add 1,550 new homes that could nearly double its size. The planned development, known as ‘West Woolavington,’ was initially announced by Persimmon Homes Severn Valley in November 2023, originally encompassing 1,400 homes along with commercial space and a primary school adjacent to the Gravity enterprise zone.
After a period of silence, new proposals have been submitted which increase the number of homes to 1,550, a figure comparable to the Staplegrove urban extension currently under construction in Taunton. Somerset Council is expected to review these preliminary plans soon, with a detailed submission anticipated later this year.
The development site stretches between Woolavington Road and Crancrombe Road, near the village’s sports pavilion, bordering a separate nearby project of 85 homes by Gladman Developments. It will extend the village’s western edge close to Enterprise Way, the main access route into the Gravity gigafactory from the M5 motorway, nearing the border with the neighbouring village of Puriton.
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Access to the new homes will be via two new junctions on Woolavington Road, positioned on either side of Axe Valley Vets. The primary school is planned to be centrally located within the site. Around 40% of the homes—approximately 620—will be affordable housing, in line with the current Sedgemoor Local Plan. The exact housing mix and tenures will be refined as the planning process advances.
Alongside housing, a local centre will be developed near the school, featuring shops, a mobility hub, and potential sports facilities. The site will also benefit from substantial public open spaces and new attenuation ponds designed to mitigate flooding risks. Extensive walking and cycling routes will connect residents to the approved active travel link leading directly to the gigafactory.
A spokesperson for Boyer Planning, representing Persimmon, highlighted that the mixed-use neighborhood supports growth linked to the Gravity ‘smart campus,’ which is expected to create upwards of 7,500 jobs alongside complementary amenities such as on-site rail terminals, health, sports, and social facilities. Persimmon emphasized that the application process will take place under the current adopted Somerset Local Plan, which is still in its early stages.
Woolavington is already earmarked for major housing expansion, with other developments underway. These include Gladman’s 85-home project, 14 new social houses on Lavers Close, 170 homes proposed by South West Strategic Developments on the village’s eastern edge, and 150 homes approved on Cossington Lane by Bloor Homes South West.
If the West Woolavington plans receive approval after the council’s review of the scoping opinion, Persimmon aims to submit detailed plans by the end of the year. Construction could then commence in the 2028/29 financial year, with around 110 homes built annually until completion in 2043.