THE Government has confirmed it will put up funding for a spine road to help serve thousands of new homes planned in Staplegrove.

The then Housing Secretary Sajid Javid announced £7.2 million of taxpayers' cash for the project at the start of last month (February).

His replacement, Kit Malthouse has now written to Taunton Deane MP Rebecca Pow reaffirming that pledge.

The road, funded from the Government's Housing Infrastructure Fund, will support a 1,628-homes plan on fields on the edge of Staplegrove and Kingston St Mary.

In his letter to Ms Pow, Mr Malthouse says: "I am pleased to inform you that following the conclusion of funding clarification the scheme has received final approval, subject to conditions, which will be agreed and set out in the funding agreement with Homes England.

"Once the local authority has agreed to the contract and met relevant conditions, the scheme will move into payment."

Ms Pow said she is delighted by the announcement.

She added: "I am delighted that the £7.2 million for the Staplegrove spine road has been confirmed.

"I worked long and hard to represent the views of the many local people I met with - making it clear that we have to have the right infrastructure for our new housing developments.

"So many people deserve a home of their own but this must be accompanied by the right infrastructure.

"I was pleased to get the then Housing Minister down as part of my campaign to make the case and I was delighted to have meetings with the new Housing Minister to continue to make the case and I am pleased he has listened."