More than 50 new homes are set to be built within one of Taunton's largest developments, following a unanimous approval by local councillors. The Orchard Grove site, previously known as the Comeytrowe urban extension, is being developed by a consortium and will eventually house 2,000 new homes, a primary school, commercial space, a care home and a 'park and bus' facility between the A38 Wellington Road and Honiton Road.
Vistry had proposed plans to construct 52 homes within the 'western neighbourhood' in December 2022, but the decision was repeatedly delayed due to the ongoing phosphates issues. However, Somerset Council's planning committee west has now given its unanimous backing, meaning the new homes can begin to be delivered within a matter of months.
The development site is located to the north of Egremont Road and will be connected onto Comeytrowe Lane via a bus gate. It is situated near the historic Comeytrowe Manor and a short distance from the planned Mill Pool public open space, which will be delivered near the now-demolished Comeytrowe Industrial Estate.
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Within this section of the development, 52 homes are set to be constructed, with half being affordable housing. This includes 16 social rent properties and ten shared ownership homes, while the remainder will be offered on the open market.
The project plans also entail transforming an obsolete stable block located at Comeytrowe Manor into a new dwelling, raising the total number of new homes in this part of the Orchard Grove site to 53.
Additionally, there are plans to revamp the Mill Pool green space, featuring a reconfiguration of one of the ponds into two separate ones, positioned north of a proposed pedestrian and cycle link onto Lipe Hill Lane.
During a meeting in Taunton on April 15, local resident Tony Smith called for prudence from the council's planning committee west, which is tasked with handling significant applications for the former Somerset West and Taunton area.
Addressing the committee, Mr. Smith highlighted the historical knowledge about contamination on the site: "The nature of the contamination on this parcel of the urban extension was known over 12 years ago, before outline permission was granted."
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"Be aware that the case officer had to write his report without knowledge of a key material document, which was only released by the developers last Friday (April 11).
"None of the statutory consultees, including the Environment Agency and Wessex Water, have been allowed enough time to exercise due diligence by studying its contents."
Principal planning officer Simon Fox commented on the site's past issues, stating: "When the site was an industrial estate, it was evident that there were lots of contaminants and very little drainage – so every time it rained, everything that was on the ground got swept into the river, eventually.
"From a contamination and general pollution control situation, we're in a much better position now than we were when the industrial estate was in operation."
The Orchard Grove development has faced delays due to the ongoing phosphates crisis, requiring developers to implement additional measures to ensure no net increase in phosphates affects the Somerset Levels and Moors.
Previously, housing developments in the 'western neighbourhood' were balanced by fallowing land in the 'eastern neighbourhood', a temporary measure that reached its limit with the approval of 20 new homes in February 2023.
The most recent phase has been addressed through the acquisition of phosphate credits from Burrow Environmental's private scheme, which involves taking agricultural land out of use within the River Tone catchment area.
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After April 2030, any land that has been fallowed may be eligible for 'recycling' into new phosphate credits, coinciding with Wessex Water's anticipated upgrades to waste water treatment plants around Taunton, aimed at reducing phosphates in local watercourses.
Councillor Habib Farbahi, representing the Comeytrowe and Trull division which encompasses the Orchard Grove site, emphasised the necessity of enforcement at the bus gate, stating: "I'm like to see enforcement on the bus gate – I think that's absolutely essential.
"Unclear signage and confusion from drivers just tapping things into the SatNav means people might get directed down that way.
"We need something down there so people get used to the idea of not going through the bus gate."
Following a debate lasting just over an hour, all three sets of plans received unanimous approval from the committee.