Introduction
Bloor Homes is preparing plans for approximately 161 no. residential dwellings, public open space, drainage and associated infrastructure, at Land to the North of Taunton Road, Longforth Park, Wellington, Somerset.
A Reserved Matter application will be submitted in September 2025, detailing the appearance, layout, scale of the dwellings and associated landscaping.
This application follows Outline planning permission (Somerset Council Ref. 43/23/0056) for a mixed use development of up to 200 dwellings, employment land, an internal spine road to facilitate the proposed Wellington train station, public open space, drainage and associated infrastructure.
The Outline planning permission has approved the principle of locating 200 homes and employment land at the site, more than proposed by Bloor Homes. The Reserved Matters application will determine what the homes will look like. A further Reserved Matters application for the employment land is to be submitted once the marketing exercise has been completed.
A Reserved Matters application (Ref. 43/24/0092) has already been approved for the spine road, connecting the Lidl access at Nynehead Road to the proposed train station. A further Reserved Matters application (Ref. 43/24/0105) was also approved for the station square. The Outline planning permission required the details of the spine road and square to be approved prior to any residential development, to ensure that the train station is serviced in a timely fashion.
This consultation provides an opportunity to view the proposed plans for the residential areas of the site and to provide any comments and feedback regarding the emerging proposals.
Pre-application Discussions
Bloor Homes is engaging with Somerset Council and Wellington Town Council to discuss the proposed dwellings. A presentation has also been given to the Council’s Quality Review Panel (QRP) to critically review the proposed designs. A copy of the QRP presentation is provided in the downloads section of this website, which provides a detailed overview of the design process that has led to the draft designs at this stage.
Feedback from these pre-application discussions and any comments from this public consultation will inform the final submitted plans.
The Proposals
A total of up to 200 dwellings is proposed. The detailed layout is still evolving, and the final number of homes will be determined once all pre-application comments have been considered.
The proposed dwellings will consist of a mix of family housing, predominantly of 2 storey construction, with some 2 ½ storey homes in key, prominent, locations. The external appearance of the properties will reflect the character of more traditional properties within Wellington, predominantly red brick with buff coloured string courses. Some rendered properties would be provided to create visual markers at adjoining streets or vista formation.
The residential areas will be formed into the following three-character areas:
- Character Area 1 - The Core area, along the spine road
- Character Area 2 - Internal Streets
- Character Area 3 – Rural Edge
Character Areas help integrate the design proposals with the surroundings, maintaining continuity and creating a sense of place.
Each Character Area will have unique design components, including built form principles, building height, setbacks, landscape treatments, architectural detailing, and materials.
The design of each Character Area builds on the approved outline, focusing on streetscape, landscaping (both hard and soft), built form, and materials. More details of these character areas is provided in the QRP presentation in the downloads.
Parking will be provided in accordance with the Council’s parking standards, including visitor parking.
As required by the Outline permission, the proposals include a pedestrian/cycle link on the west boundary of the site, linking Taunton Road (B3151) with the proposed train station. Other pedestrian/cycle improvements are also secured through financial contributions in the Section 106 Agreement that accompanied the Outline permission.
Ecology and Landscaping
The Outline planning application requires the submission of effective landscape management programmes to ensure that the proposed ecological enhancements thrive. The parameters of the development, fixed at outline stage, respect identified ecological buffer zones around important bat roosts with the proposal offering a sensitive lighting design to minimise impacts.
Furthermore, Bloor Homes is signed up to the Homes for Nature scheme meaning that every home will have a bird-nesting brick or box installed and hedgehog highways implemented within the development.
Over 220 trees are proposed to be planted and 600m of native hedgerow planting to provide further habitats. The sustainable urban drainage system will be multi-functional, managing the rain and surface water whilst also being nature-led in design accompanied by wildflower planting.
Wider Infrastructure
A common concern with developments of this nature in Wellington and other areas relates to the ability of infrastructure - like schools and doctors’ surgeries - to cope with the additional population resulting from the development. As part of the development and the commitment to supporting local services and facilities, Bloor Homes will be contributing:
- £573,620 towards walking and cycling links in the vicinity of the Development
- £10,000 towards the provision of allotments in Wellington
- £573,000 towards education
- £50,000 towards the ‘Grand Western Greenway Project’ seeking a new active travel route between Wellington and Taunton
- £89,336 towards extending GP surgeries proposed to serve the Development
- £124,714 towards the provision of playing pitches and changing facilities in Wellington
Downloads
The following documents provide more information on the site and proposals:
- Site Location
- Proposed Layout Plan
- Quality Review Panel Presentation
Have your say
If you would like to comment on the proposals, please e-mail us at planning.exeter@carneysweeney.co.uk or write to us at:
Carney Sweeney Planning, Broadwalk House, 1 Southernhay West, Exeter, EX1 1TS
The closing date for the receipt of responses is midnight on 19th September 2025.
Any personal information provided as part of this consultation will be managed in accordance with our privacy policy.