MORE than 100 new homes could be built near one of Taunton’s park and ride sites if new proposals are given the green light.

Taylor Wimpey has submitted outline plans for up to 150 new homes on the Brookfield Farm Shop and Nursery site on Ruishton Lane in Ruishton, north of the Gateway park and ride site on the eastern edge of Taunton.

The development will include substantial amounts of public open space to provide a buffer between the new homes, the Black Brook and the M5 motorway.

Somerset Council is expected to make a decision on the outline proposals early in the new year.

The site lies at the western edge of Ruishton, adjacent to the Premier Inn and Miller and Carter steakhouse.

Access to the new development (dubbed ‘Brookfield Nurseries’ in documents uploaded to the council’s planning portal) would be from Ruishton Lane, with walking and cycle routes being provided throughout the site and potentially linking up with both the village and the recently-upgraded junction with the A358.

Despite being close to the Black Brook, the site is deemed to be at relatively low risk of flooding – with the developer promising to reduce the risk further by substantial landscaping and a green buffer at the site’s northern edge.

Part of these area could be turned into wetlands as a form of phosphate mitigation, to prevent any additional phosphates being released into the Somerset Levels and Moors catchment area.

Of the 150 homes planned for the site, 38 will be affordable – meeting the council’s 25 per cent target for any new development of ten homes or more in the former Somerset West and Taunton area.

A spokesman for Focus On Design (representing the developer) said: “The site is well-connected by buses, walking and cycling routes to Taunton town centre, as well as Blackbrook Business Park and Hankridge Farm which together offer a range of employment, retail and leisure opportunities.

“The nearby Gateway park and ride provides a frequent service into the centre of Taunton, with buses leaving every 15 minutes, five days a week, and every 20 minutes on Saturdays.

“The site is some 500 metres north of Nexus 25, a major development opportunity for employment and related uses.

“The upgraded motorway junction and Nexus 25 indicate the support at strategic level to new development on the east side of the M5 motorway.”

Taylor Wimpey is currently delivering homes at several other major sites across Somerset, including the Oak Park site on the A371 Upper New Road in Cheddar, the Orchard Grove development on the A38 Wellington Road in Taunton (as part of a larger consortium), and the Wool Gardens development o on the Crewkerne Key Site.

The Ruishton site is not currently allocated for development within the Taunton Deane Core Strategy – but it could be allocated for future housing growth as the new Somerset Local Plan takes shape.

Jim Claydon, who lives in the village, has objected to the plans, saying they will create significant congestion in and around the existing homes.

He said: “Ruishton Lane which is already over-used and inappropriate for vehicles serving an extra 150 properties.

“The lane would be used for access to the village school, pub, church, village hall and playing field as well as journeys to Creech St. Michael and beyond.

“The lane is too narrow for two vehicles to pass in many places and the
developers do not have the ability to widen the lane along its full length.

“Encouraging further traffic on to Lane would add to the congestion already caused by rat-running through the village and further endanger pedestrians and cyclists using the lane.

“The development would add further traffic on to the A358 through Henlade which is already heavily congested and produces unacceptable levels of pollution leading to poor air quality.

“Similarly, the additional traffic would add to the congestion at junction 25 of the M5 which is already heavily congested.”

The council is expected to make a decision on the outline plans in early-2024.