Work to unlock 350 Williton homes will not clash with A39 resurfacing
Work to unlock 350 homes in a growing west Somerset village will not clash with vital resurfacing work, Somerset Council has promised.
The council will be carrying out essential drainage improvements and resurfacing on the A39 Priest Street between Washford and Williton, with work being carried out between September 28 and October 30.
The affected stretch of road runs past the Station Fields development site, where Lovell Homes secured detailed planning permission in May 2025 to deliver 350 new homes, commercial space and allotments.
The developer has already invited potential occupants to register their interest online, suggesting that construction on the access to the new homes is expected to begin shortly.
But the council and Lovell Homes have both confirmed that construction work to create the access will not clash with the resurfacing programme – with any additional work on the carriageway being carried out and paid for by the developer.
Watchet Town Council published details of the resurfacing work – including the diversion along the B3191 Brendon Road – on its official Facebook page on August 13.
A spokesperson said: “This section of highway has historically been affected by severe flooding, which presents a risk to public safety and can result in the road needing to be closed at short notice during periods of heavy rainfall.
“The planned work will include two drainage improvement schemes, which are intended to significantly reduce the risk of future flooding at this location.
“Once the drainage works have been completed the carriageway will be resurfaced.
“We recognise that the A39 is a key route into west Somerset and that any works in this location have the potential to affect local communities, businesses, deliveries, public transport and visitors.
“However, due to the nature of the drainage works and the level of excavation required, it will not be possible to carry out the scheme solely during night-time hours. Some daytime traffic management will be unavoidable.
“The works will be delivered using a combination of temporary traffic signals and road closures. During the day, two-way temporary traffic signals will be in place.
“Some phases of the works will require a road closure. Closures will only be used when necessary and will be restricted to evening or overnight periods.
“There are currently no plans to close the road during the day. We also aim to fully reopen the road to two-way traffic at weekends.”
Under the detailed planning permission, Lovell Homes has to begin construction on the Station Fields site within three years of permission being granted – meaning work must begin before May 2028.
The Wyndham Estate (which secured outline planning permission for the development back in November 2021) has already obtained consent to deliver two new sections of the Steam Coast Trail active travel route in line with the outline consent, and submitted plans in late-February for the commercial element of the site.
Somerset Council said it was in active discussion with Lovell Homes about the delivery of the Station Fields development, but confirmed that any work planned by the London-based developer would not conflict with its own work programme.
A spokesperson said: “Discussions are ongoing as we explore collaborative working. However, it does not look like the developer’s timetable is compatible with ours.”
Lovell Homes is currently constructing 80 homes at The Oaks estate in Cotford St. Luke, along with a further 105 houses at the Durleigh View development in Bridgwater.
Constructing the access to a new development site requires the developer to sign a Section 278 agreement with the council, ensuring that the access is built to an agreed standard (including the width of pavements and the height of curbs).
Such an agreement also ensures that any changes to the highways – such as digging up a newly resurfaced section of the carriageway – have to be reinstated by the developer or its contractors, not by the council.
A spokesperson for Lovell Homes said: “We are working closely with Somerset Council on all requirements for our upcoming Station Fields development in Williton.
“Updates on when construction work will commence and when the first new homes will be available will be shared in due course.”