A decision on plans for more than 1,200 new homes in Somerset’s county town has been delayed for up to six months.

Persimmon Homes South West and Redrow Homes put forward joint plans in December 2021 for phase two of the Monkton Heathfield urban extension, which will deliver new homes at Taunton’s north-eastern edge along with employment sites, a new school and a relief road.

The plans came before Somerset West and Taunton Council’s planning committee in Taunton on Thursday morning (September 15), with officers recommending the proposals be refused.

But councillors have instead delayed a decision, giving the developers up to six months to come back with improved proposals.

Phase one of the Monkton Heathfield urban extension has been largely completed, including the eastern relief road (ERR) which connects the new homes to the A3259.

However, the employment land identified at the southern edge of phase one, between the A38 and the M5, remains largely undeveloped – with Taunton Deane Borough Council agreeing in January 2019 that some of this land could be released for further housing.

Phase two of the urban extension covers the land between the existing homes and the Walford Cross waste depot, along with a small amount of land to the north of Monkton Elm Garden Centre.

The proposals put forward by the developers would see outline permission granted for up to 1,210 homes, nearly five hectares (c. 12 acres) of employment land, a ‘through’ school (combining primary and secondary provision on the same site, a ‘district centre’ with local shops, a ‘park and bus’ facility with 600 parking spaces and a new eastern relief road to link up with the A38.

 

Within this, detailed permission would also be granted for the first 240 homes, split over two sites either side of the garden centre.

Planning officers recommended to the committee the plans in their current form be refused on a number of grounds – the main objections being:

  • The plans don’t provide any sufficient phosphate mitigation which could offset damage to the Somerset Levels and Moors
  • The development is not well-designed, being “car-dominated” and not prioritising active travel between the new homes and the town centre
  • The proposals do not secure financial contributions towards affordable housing, education or health facilities
  • The planned local centre is too small and doesn’t meet the needs of the prospective new residents
  • The plans don’t adequately deliver on the park and bus facility, or align with Somerset County Council’s bus strategy

 

Councillor Ray Tully – whose West Monkton and Cheddon Fitzpaine ward includes the site – criticised the developers for not delivering on promises made for the first phase of the urban extension.

He said: “I’ve lived in Monkton Heathfield for 20 years. I’ve seen what’s happened with Persimmon and Redrow’s developments.

“I see they’re talking about playing fields for the school. Perhaps they could explain to this committee where the playing fields for the last development are?

“Most of the talk from the parish council has been on what they’ve done wrong in the first phase. When are they going to do things right?

“We were promised to start with a new relief road; it was five years late. We were promised a new school; it was three years late.

“I find that unless they can be honest with us, we’re going to have troubles all the way through.

“We don’t want a repeat of phase one. We want it done properly this time.”

Councillor Roger Habgood led the calls to defer a decision on the plans, allowing the council to work with the developers to address these issues proactively.

He said: “It’s clear that the proposal before us is not as it could be. Deferral would be the right way to go, in the hope to see significant improvements that meets all the parties’ concerns.

“We want positive, collaborative working, all of us, and if we do that together we could deliver an exemplary scheme that we can all be proud of.”

Councillor Mark Blaker added: “It is striking that things like the phosphates issue has not been addressed.

“It’s been well-known for some considerable time now, and for an application to come before this committee without mitigation measures included is surprising and concerning.

“We need to see some evidence that these things are being taken seriously and will be addressed in a timely manner before they come back to the committee in a very short time-frame.”