A growing town on the edge of the Exmoor National Park could soon welcome 25 new homes if plans are approved. Summerfield Developments has put forward outline plans to build the new homes at Greenway Farm on North Street in Wiveliscombe, at the northern edge of the town.
Numerous local residents have already objected to the plans, arguing they will exacerbate existing pressures on the town’s services and the local road network. Somerset Council is expected to make a final ruling on the proposals by the early-summer.
The site lies on the western side of North Street, bordered by Greenway Lane to the south and the existing residential development on Plain Pond and the neighbouring streets to the east. A new access road will be created onto North Street between the existing openings onto Allenside Close and Plain Pond, with the existing farm track to Greenway Farm being retained at the northern edge.
Of the 25 homes planned for the site, six will be affordable – almost meeting the council’s target of 25 per cent affordable housing for any new development of ten homes or more within the former Taunton Deane area. A spokesman for Reed Holland Architects (representing the developer) said: “The site provides a unique opportunity to create a new development to the village of Wiveliscombe.
“These proposals respond to the local character of the area and follow good urban design principles. The site provides areas of open space and reinforces existing landscape features, creating a development which is intrinsically linked to its semi-rural setting and the wider landscape.
(Image: Reed Holland Architects)
“The result will be a high-quality development with a strong identity and distinct sense of place.” Summerfield is currently building out the Killams Park estate in southern Taunton and the Liddymore Park development at the southern edge of Watchet – with the latter receiving its final approval shortly before Christmas.
Numerous local residents have already lodged their objections to the plans on the council’s planning portal, citing concerns about pressures on local infrastructure. William Lawrey, who lives at Footlands Farm, said: “There is no local dentist, an insufficient supermarket, insufficient parking near shops, a lack of space in our local primary school, a lack of capacity at the doctors’ surgery, no A-road, no rail link, no cycle paths and insufficient public transport to Wellington or Taunton for shops and services.
“The B-roads to Taunton and Wellington are inadequate for an increased number of vehicles or HGVs. The nearby comer on Ford Road is dangerously blind and narrow.”
Proposed site of 71 homes on Burges Lane in Wiveliscombe
(Image: Daniel Mumby)
Paul Dadson, of Dixon Close, concurred: “It would surely be premature to assert at this point in time that there is a demand or need for housing of the scale proposed here in Wiveliscombe, bearing in mind that there is a recent planning approval for a large development in Burges Lane, and there is allocated land elsewhere on the edge of the town that has not received formal approval.”
The council’s planning committee west approved plans for 71 new homes on Burges Lane in late-June 2024 – with a decision expected shortly on additional homes within the former Exmoor Ales brewery site on Coopers Heights.
Councillor Dave Mansell, whose Upper Tone division includes Wiveliscombe, said: “This site is not suited for development. It would result in extra traffic going through the town centre and have an adverse impact on the landscape. There are parking and traffic problems in the central part of Wiveliscombe, including The Square.
“The area could benefit from a 20 mph zone and The Square and North Street would benefit from safe crossings, new dropped kerbs and a resolution to parking problems.”
The council will make a final decision on Summerfield’s proposals in the coming months.
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