Garden village plans lead to beauty spot fears

Campaigners say a development of up to 7,000 houses that could be built near a National Landscape could "destroy the area" if approved.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request revealed plans by housebuilder Taylor Wimpey to construct a new garden town stretching from south of Taunton and the M5 motorway down to the Blackdown Hills.

Somerset Council asked developers to propose ideas for new housing projects as part of its Local Plan before some go to public consultation next year.

A spokesperson for Taylor Wimpey, which owns 1,200 acres of land - including the planned site - said it would "create a self-sustaining community" and it will work with local stakeholders on the plans.

Plans shared with the BBC show the location of the development and that new primary and secondary schools, facilities for SEND children, open spaces and transport links would be built.

National Landscapes are areas once called Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Rebecca Pow, former Conservative MP for Taunton and one of those campaigning against the development, said the plans were "astonishing" and she wants to see the area protected.

"These are our most precious rural areas and they really make up what we see as Somerset.

"It's also got ancient woodlands, sites of special scientific importance right within striking distance, and it's also really good quality farmland - so it would seem a completely inappropriate place to think about putting a huge new development," she said.

Rob Hossell, a fellow campaigner and the person who submitted the FOI request, said the plans would "destroy the area", and villagers in Stoke St Mary, which would be on the edge of a development, are "totally upset - knocked for six".

"It's just too big - it's inappropriate for this location," he said.

Mike Rigby, Lead Member for Economic Development Planning and Assets at Somerset Council, said the authority had received about 1,600 suggestions of areas for potential redevelopment as part of its call for sites.

He told BBC Radio Somerset that the process was in a "very early stage" and the council would work to narrow down the proposals ahead of a public consultation next September.

"We're going through [the bids], so the site at the moment has no status. We will get to the point where we ask people for their views if it makes it through that filter that we're going through at the moment.

"People will have the opportunity to give us their detailed views next year," he said.

He added that the proposal from Taylor Wimpey could get thrown out before the consultation stage.

A spokesperson for Taylor Wimpey said the planned Taunton Garden Village would be made up of "modern, energy-efficient and sustainable homes".

"Local engagement will be central to shaping the proposals as they develop and we are working with a range of stakeholders including local schools, care home operators, the NHS, local charities, businesses, wildlife groups and Somerset Council," they said.

"We are promoting the New Garden Village through Somerset Council's local plan process and will continue to work with local stakeholders and communities as those plans evolve."

The firm also said the plans did not include building on land it owns on the Blackdown Hills.

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