DEVELOPERS have been accused of bumping up the number of homes they propose on fields at the foot of the Quantock Hills.

People in Staplegrove and Kingston St Mary claim the "scale and density" of plans for more than 1,600 homes need "urgent re-consideration" as local roads would be overwhelmed.

An outline planning application from PM Asset Management has just gone in for 915 homes and a spine road north of Corkscrew Lane, between the two villages.

It follows an application by developers Ptarmigan Staplegrove Ltd for 713 homes in countryside between Silk Mills and Whitmore Lane.

Jackie Calcroft, of Residents of Staplegrove Action Group (RoSAG), said the original suggestion was for a total of 500 to 1,500 properties on the two sites.

She said: "It's disappointing that the land promoters have put in an application for so many houses.

"It's important that Taunton residents as a whole don't just see this as a large development opposed by NIMBYs...but appreciate the detrimental impact on already over-stretched resources - highways, education and health.

"The council is banking on committing a total of £16.6million from New Homes Bonuses to improving infrastructure and regeneration projects across Taunton, yet its Infrastructure Delivery Plan 2015 shows a need for in excess of £280million in order to fully meet demand.

"Less development would place less demand on future infrastructure costs."

Mrs Calcroft said parish councils, RoSAG and Whitmore Area Residents Group (WARG) believe the "scale of development and the density" needs "urgent re-consideration", along with "the unacceptable proposal for additional traffic" accessing Manor Road/Corkscrew Lane".

She added: "The council must be persuaded that due to the inadequacy of current infrastructure, it must scale back proposals and not give in without a fight."

Kingston St Mary Parish Council chairman Ray Stokes said locals were "appalled" at the loss of agricultural land beneath an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

"A development of this size will put an unbearable strain on roads, education, particularly secondary education, and health services," said Mr Stokes.

James Turner, land director of PM Asset Management, said the proposals include a primary school, employment land, a local centre, open space including allotments and sports pitches for Taunton Academy.

He added that there has been widespread consultation, which will continue.

"We're looking at a high-quality development that is landscape and ecologically led," said Mr Turner.

"It's on green fields, however they aren't the best location for species like dormice and lesser horseshoe bats - planting and mitigation will provide a better habitat.

"We're interested in providing a good location for people to live in and the design will reflect the area.

"The homes will be mostly bungalows, so there will still be visibility to the Quantocks, while the large pylons will go underground.

"I understand some people don't want houses there. However, we have handled the whole process in such a way that we think there's a benefit to the local area."

Mr Turner said if the application is approved, detailed plans would be drawn up and construction might be able to start in the first quarter of 2017.

*Air you views on the application - reference 34/16/0014 - on Taunton Deane Borough Council's website.