Taunton’s new ‘park and bus’ facility, designed to serve the large Orchard Grove housing development off the A38, remains closed due to minor technical issues delaying its handover.
The Orchard Grove development, a major project by Taylor Wimpey, Bovis Homes, Linden Homes, and LiveWest, plans for 2,000 new homes situated between Wellington Road (A38) and Honiton Road on Taunton’s western edge. Alongside new homes, the development will include commercial spaces, a care home, a primary school, and a ‘park and bus’ facility. This new facility will allow residents to park their cars and board buses into the town center for shopping, leisure, and medical appointments.
Although construction was completed in the summer of 2025, including dedicated entry and exit lanes from the Orchard Grove roundabout, the facility has yet to become operational. Councillor Mike Rigby, portfolio holder for economic development, planning, and assets, expressed optimism in late November 2025 that the facility would open by Christmas after extensive discussions with developers and local bus operators. However, the opening has been postponed.
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Somerset Council now hopes to provide residents with a clearer update by the end of January. Meanwhile, residents can still use existing bus stops to catch the 22, 22A, and X22 services between Taunton and Wellington, conveniently serving the Orchard Grove area.
A council spokesperson explained, “The handover process is taking longer than expected due to minor technicalities, but the site is complete and ready for use. We aim to provide a further update before the end of January.”
In conjunction with the new facility, Somerset Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) aims to accelerate bus journey times by implementing ‘greenwaves’—coordinated traffic signal timings on routes approaching Taunton from the west, north, and east. Upgrades were completed in early 2025 at the Hurdle Way junction and later along the A38 East Reach. The western greenwave scheme, affecting routes serving Orchard Grove, remains under development with updates expected later this year.
Additionally, the council’s planning committee west will review proposals for two new housing phases along Egremont Road within the Orchard Grove site. These plans involve building 208 new homes and are anticipated to influence future community and transport infrastructure.
Residents await the official opening of the ‘park and bus’ facility, which promises to enhance sustainable travel options while supporting the growth of one of Taunton’s largest new developments.