Plans for 347 new homes in Taunton's Lyngford Lane

A planning application has been submitted for the new estate at Lyngford Lane, Priorswood.

David Wilson Homes South West and Barratt Homes Bristol intend to construct the scheme in phases, according to a statement sent to Somerset West and Taunton Council.

Pre-planning discussions have been held with council planners and a public consultation and discussions with stakeholders and Lyngford Lane residents were held last July.

The project represents the final phase in the delivery of 900 homes in the Priorswood/Nerrols area identified in the authority's core strategy of housing needs from 2011 to 2028.

The homes would be two and two-and-a-half storeys high.

In the application, planning consultants Alder King say the development will "deliver a range of community benefits" and also "protect the visual, environmental, landscape and historical interests of the site and surrounding area".

A new roundabout would be built to provide vehicular access from Cheddon Road, while Lyngford Lane would be stopped up towards the northern end and 180 metres further south.

NEW ROAD: A new roundabout would be built as part of the plans

Concerns voiced at the consultations included the principle of the development, the closure of Lyngford Lane, the generation of further traffic and constriction prior to the implementation of the Northern Relief Road to Bossington Drive.

Residents also complained about the proximity of the proposed homes to existing properties.

A man who lives in Lyngford Lane said: "The developers only pay lip service to our concerns.

"They just want to get bricks on the ground. So many homes around a beautiful area will destroy it.

"They call it progress, but so many areas of Taunton and the surrounding countryside are being ruined by this type of development."

The application statement says the proposed scheme "seeks to address, where possible, residents' concerns over proximity issues".