CREWKERNE residents have been given the first glimpse of how the rest of a major development in their town could take shape.

Taylor Wimpey Exeter has outline permission to construct 635 new homes on the Crewkerne Key Site between the A30 Yeovil Road and the A356 Station Road.

South Somerset District Council approved detailed plans for the first 110 homes in March 2021, with construction formally getting underway last year.

The developer has now revealed its proposed designs for the remaining homes at the northern end of the site, which could be delivered within the next three to four years.

The key site master plan comprises the new homes being delivered within two phases – phase one of 110 homes at the south (which will also deliver employment land and a 60-bed care home) and phase two of 525 homes to the north).

The new link road will connected the two phases, with the vacant space between becoming the “southern parklands”, with new woods and green open space in addition to the planned play areas.

Once construction is completed, these green spaces will be transferred to either Crewkerne Town Council or the new unitary Somerset Council, which is due to officially assume control in April 2023.

The first details of phase two were published as part of a consultation event staged by Taylor Wimpey in late March before a formal planning application will be submitted to the district council.

Of the 525 homes proposed within phase two, 33 will be affordable – bringing the total across both phases to 50.

The plans include an area near the A30 which is earmarked for a new primary school – one of the conditions of outline permission being granted.

However, Somerset County Council indicated in January 2021 that the site will no longer be required in light of its reforms to existing schools in and around Crewkerne and Ilminster, which will take effect in September 2022.

In light of this, the school site is likely to be given over to further housing – though this will require a separate planning application.

Taylor Wimpey is still required to provide more than £2.2M towards new school places in Crewkerne under the outline permission – one of a number of financial contributions to the town which have been secured.

These include more than £393,000 for open space and recreation away from the site (which could be used to improve other parks and play facilities), £277,000 to improve Crewkerne’s existing road network, £164,000 towards securing local bus services, and more than £100,000 towards improved cycling facilities in and around the town.

A spokesman for Taylor Wimpey said: “At the heart of the development is the new village green and local centre which provides informal and formal open space, including a play area.

“To the east of the village green a new local centre building is located which will provide opportunities for shops, café or other facilities for the community.

“The southern parklands area will provide further informal space for people and wildlife, with extensive woodland planting creating habitats here and informal mown footpaths providing walking routes.”

A formal planning application covering phase two is expected to be submitted to the district council in the coming months.

Taylor Wimpey has indicated the haul road connecting the phase one and phase two sites could be delivered in its entirely by the summer of 2023, with the final link road and the access to the A30 being completed by the time the first 200 homes have been occupied.

Construction on phase one is expected to be completed by the summer of 2024, with phase two beginning around this time provided further planning consent can be secured.

STORY: Daniel Mumby, Local Democracy Reporter.