Train station in Wellington could reopen at a new site

Wellington’s original railway station, located on the B3187 at its northern edge, closed in October 1964 as part of the notorious Beeching cuts.

Somerset West and Taunton Council has been working with Mid Devon District Council on proposals to reopen stations in Wellington and Cullompton, both of which are on the Bristol to Exeter mainline.

The council has now confirmed that any new station for Wellington may not be built on the original site, and that negotiations over a new site “have begun positively”.

Councillor Mike Rigby, portfolio holder for planning policy and transport, provided a written update on the situation at a virtual full council meeting held on September 29.

He said in his written report: “Further discussions have been held with the Department for Transport (DfT) and Network Rail, seeking clarity about their requirements for the strategic outline business case – which is scheduled to be complete by December.

“An alternative site location for Wellington station has been identified by WSP, adjacent to Longforth Farm (which is allocated in the Local Plan for employment).

“Initial work suggests that this location is likely to meet track and signalling requirements, while the associated infrastructure and access can also be accommodated.

“Discussions with the land agent for Longforth Farm have begun positively.”

Possible locations of New Wellington Railway Station within The Longforth Farm Site’s Employment Allocation. Pic: Somerset West And Taunton Council.

The council has declined to release the WSP report in full, stating that it contains commercially sensitive information.

The Longforth Farm site was allocated in the Taunton Deane Local Plan for delivering 900 new homes in Wellington, along with employment land, a northern relief road and a new primary school.

Bloor Homes was granted outline permission in 2013 to build 503 homes on part of the site in three phases – the last of which was given detailed planning permission in 2018.

As part of the Local Plan, two sections of the Longforth Farm site are earmarked for employment – both of which run along the railway line.

One site lies near the existing Relyon factory, on the opposite side of the B3187 Milverton Road bridge from the original station.

The other lies further east, between the railway line and the existing roundabout where Taunton Road meets Nynehead Road.

The Local Plan does not specify which of the two sites would be best suited for the new station – but it does envision that the Longforth Farm redevelopment would enable Relyon and Swallowfield to relocate, freeing up the land near the original station.

The plan added: “A comprehensive and co-ordinated approach to development within Longforth, together with development at the Cades and Jurston sites, will support the re-opening of the railway station.

“This will result in a significant improvement in public transport for the existing and new population, and will also provide a realistic alternative to the increasingly congested M5 for many longer-distance journeys.”

The Local Plan is currently being reviewed by the council, with the latest proposals due to be published by the end of October.

The DfT has provided up to £50,000 to develop the business case for the new stations, which will be submitted to the government in December.

Initial estimates suggest it could cost £15M to build a new station at Wellington.