AROUND 100 new jobs will be created in Taunton after plans for a new care home were unanimously approved.

Construction is currently moving forward on the Orchard Grove development, which will ultimately deliver 2,000 new homes, employment land, a primary school and a ‘park and bus’ facility between the A38 Wellington Road and Honiton Road.

Mercian Developments Ltd, which is based near Ledbury in Herefordshire, teased details in late-2022 of a new 68-bed care home within the development site, which would be run by the Trull-based Amica Care Trust.

Somerset West and Taunton Council has now given the plans the green light, with construction likely to get under way later in the year.

The new facility – the first new purpose-built care home for Taunton since 2009 – will be built at the western end of the Orchard Grove site, near the planned employment zone and ‘park and bus’ facility.

The care home will comprise of 68 en-suite bedrooms across two floors, with a range of communal spaces and facilities, including a café, lounges, dining areas, spa, hair salon, multi-purpose activity rooms and quiet rooms.

Somerset County Gazette: The committee voted unanimously to approve the plans after around half an hour’s debate.The committee voted unanimously to approve the plans after around half an hour’s debate. (Image: KWL Architects)

The care home – which would be the first confirmed employer within the Orchard Grove development – will be geared towards people needing specialist dementia, residential and respite care.

The trust already operates four care homes in the UK – The Orchards in Crewkerne, Signature House in Dorchester, Exmouth House in Exmouth and St. John’s Court in Bromsgrove.

Members of the council’s planning committee gave the plans their blessing at a meeting held in Taunton on Thursday morning (January 19).

Councillor Marcia Hill – who had been critical of plans for a slightly smaller care home within the Monkton Heathfield urban extension – said she welcomed the proposal.

She said: “I like the fact that it’s near an open park area (within the development) – it’s the perfect thing to put there.

“It’s going to provide a lot of employment. They’ve done everything they could have done – it ticks all the boxes.”

Councillor Ian Aldridge also welcomed the proposal, but was slightly critical of the design of the proposed complex.

He said: “This is a gateway building onto the site; the only reservation I’ve got is the lack of imagination towards the overall appearance of the building.

“It reminded me of my visits to St. Petersburg and seeing Soviet-style block apartments along wide boulevards.

“It doesn’t relate exactly to that, but it does seem to lack a bit of imagination.”

The committee voted unanimously to approve the plans after around half an hour’s debate.