Plans for a new spine road to serve 200 homes and Somerset’s newest railway station have been put forward by a developer.

West of England Developments (Taunton) Ltd. secured outline planning permission in early-May to build the new homes on Nynehead Road in Wellington, along with commercial units and a car park to serve a new £15m railway station for the town.

Since this decision, the station’s future has been thrown into doubt, with chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves MP ordering a review into major infrastructure projects in a bid to fill a £22bn ‘black hole’ in the public finances.

The developer has now revealed the design for the new spine road which will link the new homes to the town – with Somerset Council expected to make a ruling shortly after Christmas.

The spine road will extend the existing access off Nynehead Road, near the town’s Lidl supermarket, north-west to just short of the railway line, where land has been allocated for a new car park near the southbound platform of the new station.

A new pedestrian crossing will be delivered along the existing section of road, and the new section will include a designated pedestrian and cycle lane along its right hand side all the way to the new car park.

A secondary shared use path will be provided running due south from the car park to the B3187 Taunton Road, providing a pedestrian link to the town centre and a safe access route for residents on the Cades Farm estate.

A spokesman for Carney Sweeney (representing the developer) said: “Our client now wishes to progress with the first phase of development, and as such is submitting a reserved matters application for the spine road and pedestrian/cycle link through the site.

“This is in order to be able to front-load the infrastructure which will enable the railway station to come forward.

“In addition, it is necessary to provide details of the drainage attenuation requirements for the spine road, as these are required to deliver a functioning highway.

“In the first instance, the west boundary pedestrian/ cycle connection from Taunton Road to the station square will be used as a haul road for the construction of the station.

“Once the station works are complete, the pedestrian/cycle connection will be delivered.”

The council voted in early-January to use up to £4.5m in contributions from other housing developments in the former Taunton Deane area to fund the road upfront if necessary, in order to ensure the new station could open by mid-2026.

Taunton and Wellington MP Gideon Amos has been pushing the government to commit to the Wellington station project (and its sister service in Cullompton, over the border in Devon) as part of the government’s first budget, due on October 30.

Mr Amos issued a joint statement with Honiton and Sidmouth MP Richard Foord on September 19, following a positive meeting with rail minister and former Network Rail chairman Lord Peter Hendy.

They said: “We presented a detailed and evidenced case for the project, based on the jobs, housing and growth which would come to the area as a result.

“In response, the minister listened carefully and was encouraged with the progress made to date and with the initiative taken by the local councils who contributed all the initial funding to get the project off the ground in the first place.

“The minister promised he would progress the current review of new station and railway projects urgently, and we will continue to push at the highest levels for the reopening of Wellington and Cullompton at every opportunity we get.”

The outcome of the Department for Transport’s projects review is expected to be published before the budget is delivered to the House of Commons on October 30.

The council is expected to make a decision on the spine road plans early in the new year.