Government silent over new homes near Somerset railway lines

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander MP announced on Wednesday (July 30) that up to 40,000 homes would be delivered over the next decade by building on surplus brownfield sites near railway stations, depots and other infrastructure.

The government has set up development company Platform4 to lead the £1bn initiative, with numerous large developments in major cities already being lined up.

But the Department for Transport (DfT) has been unable to confirm whether any sites near Somerset's railway network will be redeveloped over the next ten years, stating it "doesn't have an exhaustive list" of sites.

The newly-created Platform4 brings together Network Rail’s property team with London and Continental Railways Ltd., in a move which will allow for greater efficiency in construction and allow larger amounts of private investment to be attracted.

Profits generated from the property company will be reinvested into Britain’s railways, supporting better services and infrastructure while delivering value for passengers and taxpayers.

Mrs Alexander said: "Our railways are more than just connections between places – they create economic opportunity and drive regeneration.

"It’s exciting to picture the thousands of families who will live in these future homes, the vibrant neighbourhoods springing up and the new businesses that will launch thanks to these developments.

"Platform4 will breathe new life into these spaces, delivering tens of thousands of new homes as part of our Plan for Change promise to build 1.5 million homes, while reviving communities around rail stations, supporting jobs and driving economic growth."

The DfT has already announced sites for development in Cambridge, Manchester, Newcastle and Nottingham, which are expected to deliver more than 2,700 homes between them.

Deputy prime minister and housing secretary Angela Rayner MP said: "We are facing a housing crisis which has led to a generation being locked out of home ownership, all while land sits empty and disused across the country.

"We said we’d do everything possible to get Britain building."

Excluding the West Somerset Railway and East Somerset Railway heritage lines, Somerset is home to four mainline rail routes:

• The Bristol to Exeter mainline, which serves Highbridge & Burnham, Bridgwater and Taunton stations (with Wellington being added within the next two years)
• The Taunton to London Paddington line, which serves Taunton, Castle Cary, Bruton and Frome
• The West of England mainline, which serves Crewkerne, Yeovil Junction and Templecombe
• The Bristol to Weymouth line, which serves Yeovil Pen Mill, Castle Cary, Bruton and Frome

Numerous developments have been delivered near Somerset's railway stations in recent years - including the various Firepool Lock developments in Taunton and the Henley Way estate in Highbridge.

Other similar developments are planned elsewhere in the county, including the Station Green development of 200 homes near Castle Cary station and a new 60 homes estate on Cherry Blossom Way in Sparkford.

The DfT said it was too early to say whether any brownfield sites in Somerset would fall under the Platform4 remit.

A spokesperson said: "There will be a pipeline of schemes, but we don’t have an exhaustive list at this stage as Platform4 has only just been set up.

"We’ll be able to say more down the track."