writes Daniel Mumby

WORK has begun on a major new development on the western edge of Taunton – including a new roundabout on the crucial A38.

Taunton Deane Borough Council granted outline permission in April 2018 for 2,000 homes, along with employment space, a new primary school and a park and ride facility.

The homes will be built by Taylor Wimpey, Bovis Homes and Summerfield Developments on agricultural land between the A38 Wellington Road, through Rumwell, and Honiton Road through Trull.

The developers have now started enabling works on the southern side of the A38 near the former Crown Inn, with construction work on the roundabout expected to begin in early-2020.

A spokeswoman for Taylor Wimpey and Bovis Homes said: “Under the outline permission for a residential-led development on land at Comeytrowe, we will be creating a new roundabout on the A38.

“This work is due to start in January 2020 and we are currently carrying out enabling works. We expect to start infrastructure work on site in spring 2020.

“The development has been designed to reflect the Taunton Garden Town principles and will provide 2,000 new homes, 350 of which will be affordable, as well as a primary school, mixed use local centre, employment and a ‘park and bus’ facility for 300 vehicles.”

A reserved matters application – which lays out the layout and detailed designs of the houses within the site – is being submitted to Somerset West and Taunton Council before Christmas.

These plans will be subject to public consultation before being discussed by the council’s planning committee in the new year.

The council said the developers were relocating protected species and removing hedgerows as part of the enabling works.

A council spokeswoman said: “The point of access into the site off the A38 was agreed as part of the outline planning permission.

“All other matters, including detailed design, engineering works, appearance, materials and landscaping in general, remain to be consented.

“However, the applicants sought additional agreement from our officers and Natural England on certain ecological issues affecting the approved point of access.

“This discharge of a condition attached to the outline consent was granted in order to enable them to remove certain hedgerows and relocate protected dormice during the very small window of opportunity available to do this.”

Originally published in the Somerset County Gazette

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