Villagers unite to oppose plans for new Somerset town of 7,000 homes
Taylor Wimpey confirmed in early-July that it wished to take forward proposals for a new town of 7,000 to the east of Taunton Racecourse
Residents of a small Somerset village have come together in a bid to stop plans for a new town of approximately 7,000 homes on their doorstep.
The Somerset County Gazette reported in 2019 that the Crown Estate had sold off 1,200 acres of “productive farmland”, known as the Orchard Portman estate, to major developer Taylor Wimpey for the relatively low sum of £12.5m.
Somerset Council recently launched the first round of public consultation on its new Somerset Local Plan, which will ultimately decide where new housing and employment sites are allocated up to 2045.
Taylor Wimpey confirmed in early-July that it wished to take forward proposals for a new town of 7,000 to the east of Taunton Racecourse, providing assurances that the sections nearest the Blackdown Hills will be protected from unsuitable development.
Now the residents of Stoke St. Mary have launched the ‘Save the Blackdown Vale’ campaign in a bid to stop this development, arguing it will lead to “urban sprawl” and inflict permanent damage on the character of rural Somerset.
The campaign was launched at a packed meeting at Stoke St. Mary Village Hall on Wednesday evening (July 15), with the organisers urging local residents to formally object to the development before the first round of public consultation on the Local Plan concludes on July 24.
Campaigner Colin Fisher said: “It’s essential that people respond to this consultation, so that the planners at Somerset Council and elected councillors hear the voice of local people.
“This is a completely inappropriate development which would obliterate the Blackdown Vale which is the unique setting for the Blackdown Hills National Landscape (formerly area of outstanding natural beauty, or AONB).
“Far from being smothered in concrete, is needs to be protected.”
The majority of the Orchard Portman site lies to the east of the racecourse, straddling the parishes of Orchard Portman, Stoke St. Mary and West Hatch.
A small section of the intended development directly overlaps the border of the Blackdown Hills, wrapping around the existing Netherclay and Thurlbear woodland.
Taylor Wimpey put the site forward for inclusion in the new Local Plan in February 2025, as part of the ‘call for sites’ (whereby developers, landowners and land promoters were invited to submit possible locations for development, to be assessed and narrowed down by the council’s planning department).
Campaign member Rob Hossel said: “The essence of Somerset’s character is its rural nature.
“While people welcome development to ensure sustainability, it needs be organic development integrated with existing communities – not development that totally changes the nature of a place.”
The current masterplan for the site (which has not been made public) include a new primary and secondary school (including new special needs provision), a “healthcare hub”, a neighbourhood hub with a “dedicated mass transit route to the town centre”, commercial and office space, and affordable homes – including specialist children’s homes.
Taylor Wimpey has pledged that “more than half of the site” will remain as green space for “sport, recreation, food growing, equestrian use, children’s play and biodiversity enhancement” – and they will not build homes within the boundary of the Blackdown Hills.
Among the campaigners is Rebecca Pow, who represented the Taunton Deane constituency between 2015 and 2024, and served as environment minister under both Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak.
She said: “This is some of the best farm land in Somerset which is vital for food production and our future food security. Once it is gone, it’s gone, and it should not be given up.
“There is also precious ancient woodland next to the proposed new town and a valued site of special scientific interest – both of which would be jeopardised by this proposal.”
For more details about the campaign, visit this website or search for ‘Save the Blackdown Vale’ on Facebook.
To take part in the Somerset Local Plan consultation, visit this website before July 24.
A summary of the consultation responses will be published in early-November, with the second round of consultation (including more details of proposed development sites) expected to begin in September 2027.
The third and final round of public consultation is currently scheduled to be held in March 2028, after which the Local Plan will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate (which may hold additional public hearings if it is deemed to be necessary).
If all goes smoothly, the new Local Plan will be formally adopted on March 16, 2029.