TAYLOR Wimpey has begun work on the first phase of a major new development of more than 600 homes and community facilities in Crewkerne.

The development will comprise 635 new homes, including 50 properties classed as affordable housing, as well as a primary school, shops and community building, care home, employment land, play areas, and large areas of landscaped open space with ecological measures designed to improve habitats for native wildlife.

Significant archaeological investigation is currently underway on site, and the first phase of 110 two, three, and four-bedroom homes is due to go on sale in autumn 2022.

Members of Crewkerne Town Council, including Mayor of Crewkerne Cllr Kathy Head, and district councillor Mike Best were invited to the site to see the extent of the proposals.

Taylor Wimpey has consulted extensively with local stakeholders, the community, and planning department in drawing up its proposals for Crewkerne.

The development will also bring a range of additional benefits for the area through planning contributions of over £3.75m.

Payments will be made to South Somerset District Council and Somerset County Council for improvements to bus services, education facilities, open space, traffic calming, cycle upgrades, and recreational space. Taylor Wimpey will also build a strategic bypass road, linking the A356 to the A30. This will allow vehicles to avoid Crewkerne town centre.

A breaking ground ceremony was held with local councillors at the end of November to mark the start of the development at Station Road.

Richard Harrison, Land and Planning Director for Taylor Wimpey Exeter, said: “Starting work on our Crewkerne site was a significant moment for us and we were delighted to share it with town councillors, whose feedback has helped to shape our proposals.

“As well as providing a range of high-quality new homes for local people, our development will feature various facilities for new residents and the existing community to make use of. We are particularly pleased that ecological enhancement and sustainability features are a key part of our proposals, with the protection of existing wildlife paramount.

“We look forward to speaking to potential new customers and I’d urge anyone interested in the new homes to register their interest on our website.”

People can visit www.taylorwimpey.co.uk/crewkerne to find out more about the new development and register their interest in a new home.