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Search the Public Notice Portal"Frank but constructive" talks have taken place between Somerset Council and central government over plans to deliver new infrastructure at Taunton's largest development site.
The Orchard Grove development, between the A38 Wellington Road and Honiton Road, will eventually comprise 2,000 homes, along with commercial space, a care home, a primary school and a 'park and bus' facility - with the latter two elements already being up and running.
Local MP Gideon Amos has been working with Somerset Council to lobby the government for funding to deliver additional infrastructure within the site, including a health hub, a secondary school and the remainder of Egremont Road (which will eventually run west to east throughout the site).
Housing minister Matthew Pennycook MP, who recently visited Taunton with representatives from Homes England, has now indicated the site could serve as a "case study" for the government's housing ambitions - and that he would push for new facilities to be funded within the site.
Messrs. Amos and Pennycook were joined at these talks by Councillor Habib Farbahi (whose Comeytrowe and Trull division includes the Orchard Grove site), Councillor Mike Rigby (portfolio holder for economic development, planning and assets), and a senior member of the council's planning team.
Mr Amos led the charge for securing a new health hub and secondary school for the site - which came after the council admitted that it may take until 2031 for any new secondary school be delivered in the town.
He said: "At home in Taunton, we all know the town is going to need a new secondary school as remaining places at existing schools are getting harder and harder to come by.
"Similarly, people should not have to accept thousands of new houses unless we get infrastructure, such as more GP appointments and better NHS provision generally.
"Infrastructure for the town, including schools and GP surgeries, really must be agreed before more housing growth is imposed by government.
"The purpose of the meeting was to make that case to the minister and we had a frank but constructive exchange of views.
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"I’m hopeful we have made a real start and some progress on the need for both better health and education provision for our town."
The council's planning committee west (which handles major applications within the former Somerset West and Taunton area) approved plans for 209 homes within the Orchard Grove site when it met in Taunton on Tuesday afternoon (March 24).
At the same meeting, senior planning officer Simon Fox revealed that no shops would be delivered within the planned 'local centre' until 1,000 homes had been constructed - with the same threshold applying for the proposed community centre.
Mr Amos (who has represented Taunton and Wellington since July 2024) said: "I think we convinced the minister of the need because he proposed that we now develop a business case for a new community health centre for Taunton.
"He made clear that planning for a new secondary school would be a longer-term project requiring the assembly of a significant level of funding - but he agreed for his officials to raise the school proposal with the Department for Education (DfE).
"Significantly, the minister indicated that the Orchard Grove development in Taunton could serve as a case study to explore how developments across the country could better integrate the development of schools, health services and other vital infrastructure alongside housing growth.
"I’m grateful to the minister, who genuinely listened and responded to the need for better health and school provision in Taunton.
"I, and my colleagues, will be keeping up the pressure on him to support this provision, including when I get my opportunities to challenge him about Taunton at the despatch box in the House of Commons.
"I’ll keep working closely with our councillors and use any lever I can to ensure our county town gets the improvements it deserves."
Orchard Grove is the only development site in the south west that will benefit from the government's new homes accelerator fund - but more than six months on from the funding being confirmed in September 2025, no details have been divulged as to how much funding will be provided or how it will be spent.
Mr Farbahi said: "This was an extremely constructive meeting and demonstrates what can be achieved when local representatives, government ministers and senior council officers work together with a shared determination to deliver the infrastructure our communities need.
"Taunton is growing rapidly, and it is vital that schools, healthcare facilities and other essential services grow with it.
"By working collaboratively with government and Homes England, we are taking an innovative approach to ensure development is properly supported by the infrastructure residents deserve."
The delivery of the Orchard Grove development has been impacted by the ongoing phosphates crisis - with the consortium needing to secure additional mitigation to prevent any further damage to the Somerset Levels and Moors.
The council sought to secure permission for the 209 homes either side of Egremont Road in order to speed up the delivery of new homes before new government rules on mitigation (as part of the Planning and Infrastructure Act) take effect later in the year.
Mr Rigby added: "Ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with housing is one of the most important challenges facing growing communities.
"This meeting showed that there is a genuine willingness from government to engage with local areas like Taunton and find practical ways to deliver the facilities people rely on.
"The meeting marks an important step forward in positioning Taunton as a leading example of how housing growth can be matched with the schools, healthcare and community infrastructure needed to support thriving communities."
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