Plans revealed for 7,000 new Somerset homes near M5

The Somerset County Gazette reported in 2019 that the Crown Estate had sold off 1,200 acres of "productive farmland", known as the Orchard Portman estate, to major developer Taylor Wimpey for the relatively low sum of £12.5m.

Taylor Wimpey confirmed in early-July that it wished to take forward proposals for a new town of 7,000 homes to the east of Taunton Racecourse, submitting the site before the first public consultation began on Somerset Council's new Local Plan (which will allocate housing and employment sites up to 2045).

A Freedom of Information request by the recently-formed Save the Blackdown Vale campaign group has now revealed Taylor Wimpey's full vision for the site - with local residents having only two more weeks to register their opposition before the initial consultation closes.

The FOI request was submitted by campaigner Rob Hossell in April, resulting in documents detailing conversations between the council and Taylor Wimpey dating back to January 2025.

Mr Hossell said: "The masterplan shows just how the new town could destroy the scenic beauty of the Blackdown Vale if it is ever built.

"No amount of mitigation with green spaces and parks can hide 7,000 homes within the beautiful setting of the Blackdown Hills national landscape (formerly area of outstanding natural beauty, or AONB).

"Few people realise a national landscape has the same status as a national park in planning terms, so it would seem that the council and the latest government's initial focus on building council houses is designed to divert attention from this fact.

"However, in terms of what weight local people have to make their case, the latest emphasis on devolution to the regions could potentially give our campaign more power to block a new town such as this."

The masterplan confirms that the new 'garden village' will be delivered east of the racecourse, with homes stretching as far north as Haydon Lane and virtually surrounding Stoke St. Mary.

Masterplan of new town of 7,000 homes near Taunton Racecourse (Image: Taylor Wimpey)

The development promises "a hierarchy of neighbourhood hubs, providing community spaces, healthcare facilities and access to sustainable
transport", with at least three such locations being identified throughout the site.

A new primary school will be delivered at the southern end of the site, with a possible new secondary school being delivered in the Shoreditch area north of the racecourse

Taylor Wimpey pledged in early-July that "more than half of the site" will remain as green space for "sport, recreation, food growing, equestrian use, children's play and biodiversity enhancement" - and they will not build homes within the boundary of the Blackdown Hills.

The masterplan appears to confirm this, with the land at the southernmost and easternmost edges of the site being largely devoted to public open space, sports facilities and enhancing existing public rights of way.

Save the Blackdown Vale campaigner Colin Fisher said it was important for local people to continue lodging their objections to the proposed development as the Local Plan process rolls forward.

Artist's impression of new town of 7,000 homes near Taunton Racecourse (Image: Taylor Wimpey)

He said: "At a recent meeting, council planning officers indicated that 'new settlements' were not expected to form part of the next stage of the Local Plan.

"However, hidden within the consultation documents was a reference to both 'ten per cent [of new homes] in new settlement(s)' and 'promoted sites' (from developers) being taken forward for further consideration, despite no further details being provided.

"Given that the Local Plan is intended to accommodate the government's housing target of around 75,000 homes across Somerset over the next 20 years, ten per cent would equate to approximately 7,500 homes.

"It doesn’t take a genius to work out that this is approximately the number of houses Taylor Wimpey are proposing in the masterplan for the new town east of Taunton."

Former Taunton Deane MP Rebecca Pow, who has been active in the campaign against this development, added: "As a former environment minister, I recognise that we cannot afford to lose this valuable asset in the protected setting of a national landscape.

Proposed site of 7,000 homes between Taunton and the Blackdown Hills near Taunton Racecourse (Image: David Orr)

"If people want to get their voices genuinely heard I urge them to write to their local councillors, as they are responsible ultimately for the Local Plan which will determine where new development goes.

"While additional housing is needed it should not be at the expense of destroying the precious, rural landscape of the county.

"It has to go in the right place, and east of the motorway is inappropriate."

For more details about the campaign, visit www.blackdownvale.org.uk or search for 'Save the Blackdown Vale' on Facebook.

To take part in the Somerset Local Plan consultation, visit www.somersetcouncil.citizenspace.com/planning/local-plan-scoping-consultation-2026/consultation.

Entrance to Taunton Racecourse from the B3170 Shoreditch Road near Taunton (Image: Daniel Mumby)

The consultation was originally due to conclude on Friday (July 24), but was quietly extended to August 9 following feedback from local residents.

A summary of the consultation responses will be published in early-November, with the second round of consultation (including more details of proposed development sites) expected to begin in September 2027.

The third and final round of public consultation is currently scheduled to be held in March 2028, after which the Local Plan will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate (which may hold additional public hearings if it is deemed to be necessary).

The new Local Plan is expected to be formally adopted on March 16, 2029.