Plans for the “golden thread” cycle route running through the Firepool regeneration site in Taunton have been given the go-ahead as contractors move in to protect the area from flooding.

Somerset West and Taunton Council has been seeking to progress its plans to regenerate the former cattle market site on Canal Road (which has lain vacant since 2008), filling the space with housing, commercial units, a hotel, cinema and potentially a multi-purpose entertainment venue.

Following approval of the new access road into the site in February and plans for re-purposing the former GWR building in March, the council’s planning committee has now approved the designs for the “southern boulevard” which will link Taunton railway station to the town centre via the new development.

This decision comes as the temporary boulevard through the site – created in time for the men’s cricket world cup in 2019 – closes for six months to allow contractors to raise the entire area by around half a metre, reducing the flood risk and unlocking other aspects of the development.

The new boulevard will approximately follow the route of the existing temporary boulevard connecting the railway station to Somerset County Cricket Club.

At the northern end of the site, the boulevard will join up with new pedestrian and cycling routes between the A3087 Trenchard Way and Canal Road, which are being delivered during the construction of the new digital innovation centre – which is due to open in 2023.

This new facility is currently being built opposite the former GWR offices (known as ‘block 3’ within the Firepool masterplan) – with permission being granted in March to transform these buildings into offices and a restaurant.

From there, the boulevard will proceed south, providing rain gardens to encourage wildlife and a town square between the residential and commercial elements before broadening out into a large water feature.

At the southern end of the site, the boulevard will finish at a substantial amphitheatre (which will be delivered through the government’s future high streets fund), before linking up to existing pedestrian and cycling routes along the River Tone.

A separate application will seek to extend this cycle route to the recently-completed Coal Orchard regeneration site, building a new bridge over the river.

The council’s planning committee met in Taunton to discuss the southern boulevard plans on Thursday afternoon (November 10).

Councillor Roger Habgood welcomed the plans as part of a wider effort to create a “golden thread” between the railway station and Vivary Park.

He said: "We’ve always said that the link from the station to Vivary must happen – and this is the most important bit, in my view.

"It’s a very complex site – the infrastructure is a flipping nightmare, but we’ve done a great job at making the most of it.

"For me, this is a good outcome, and a well-overdue one."