A PLANNED community centre within a flagship low-cost development in Taunton has been scrapped in favour of creating additional homes.

The North Taunton Woolaway Project, which is being overseen by Somerset Council, will see 162 ‘defective’ Woolaway homes in the Priorswood area of Taunton demolished and replaced by 229 low-carbon council houses – with a further 27 homes being refurbished.

Phase A of the project (which finished in April) has 47 new homes across five sites, comprising 21 new builds and 26 replacement properties.

This phase was originally expected to include a community centre at the corner of Rochester Road and Dorchester Road.

But the council’s planning committee west has now backed plans to turn this site into two further apartments for those on low incomes.

The council had argued in November 2023 that there were already eight community facilities within easy reach of the new homes – namely:

  • Waterside House on Abbey Close
  • Leonard Holden Court on Dorchester Road
  • St Andrew’s Church Hall on Greenway Avenue
  • Hope Corner Lane Meeting Hall on Hope Corner Lane
  • Priorswood Community Centre on Priorswood Place
  • Rowbarton & Lyngford Boys’ Club on Selworthy Road
  • St. Peter’s Church Hall on Eastwick Road
  • Wellesley Street Meeting Hall on Wellesley Street

Planning officer Anna-Mari Galliott said in her written report: “Though the loss of community use of the site is regretted, attempts to implement the facility for community use have been unsuccessful.”

The building which would have housed the community centre is already largely constructed, meaning mostly internal alterations would be needed.

The two new flats – one with one bedroom, one with two bedrooms – will be offered at affordable rent, targeted at people who have accessibility needs (e.g. wheelchair users).

For more information on the North Taunton project, visit www.somerset.gov.uk/housing-support/council-and-social-housing/north-taunton-woolaway-project-overview.