Taunton’s newly constructed ‘park and bus’ facility, intended to serve the substantial Orchard Grove housing development along the A38, remains unopened due to minor technical delays.
The Orchard Grove project, a collaboration between Taylor Wimpey, Bovis Homes, Linden Homes, and LiveWest, is set to deliver around 2,000 homes situated between Wellington Road (A38) and Honiton Road on Taunton’s western edge. In addition to residential units, the development will feature commercial spaces, a care home, and a primary school.
Central to the scheme is the ‘park and bus’ facility, designed to enable residents to park their vehicles and easily access bus services into Taunton’s town center—for shopping, leisure, and medical visits. Although construction, including dedicated access lanes onto the Orchard Grove roundabout, was completed in summer 2025, the facility has yet to commence operation.
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Councillor Mike Rigby, responsible for economic development, planning, and assets, pledged in late November 2025 to ensure the facility opened by Christmas. However, as of now, Somerset Council reports that the handover is delayed due to minor technicalities, pushing the anticipated update to residents until the end of January 2026.
Despite the ‘park and bus’ facility being closed, bus services between Taunton and Wellington continue to run from existing stops. The council confirmed the site itself is ready and currently served by the 22, 22A, and X22 bus routes, already utilized by Orchard Grove residents.
Somerset Council has also been advancing its Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), which aims to enhance travel times through ‘greenwave’ traffic signal systems. Upgrades have been made to key junctions such as Hurdle Way and several signal points along the A38 East Reach in 2025, improving journeys from the east, north, and west.
Notably, the western ‘greenwaves’ initiative remains in development, with further updates expected later in 2026.
Furthermore, the council’s Planning Committee West is set to rule later this year on two new housing proposals near Egremont Road within Orchard Grove. These plans would contribute an additional 208 homes, reinforcing the ongoing growth in the area.