Last week’s confirmation that Taunton had been chosen to become one of only three Garden Towns has delighted all of those involved in planning for Taunton’s future.
Our county town is undergoing a transformation and we have an ambitious plan for the delivery of new homes, improved infrastructure, a thriving town centre and for a range of development projects that will support both the town and region’s continued economic growth. The success of our bid recognises this; recognises Taunton’s role as a key centre in the South West; and is testament to the hard work and co-operation of teams across our local government area and with external partners.
I was born and brought up in Taunton Deane and have served as Leader of Taunton Deane Borough Council for 10 years. I have never known a period of such change and progress for our locality, especially very recently with the go-ahead for Hinkley Point C. Change does concern some, of course, which is why we are meticulously planning for new homes and new jobs with the right infrastructure to ensure that our community continues to enjoy a fantastic quality of life coupled with the benefits of economic growth.
Taunton already has many of the characteristics of a Garden Town. We are surrounded by beautiful countryside and have numerous parks and green spaces both within the town centre and towards the edges of our ‘urban’ area. With the M5 and excellent rail links we are also exceptionally well connected to other centres, from Exeter and Bristol to London and Birmingham.
To the end of the plan period, 2028, we intend to build more than 13,000 new homes in Taunton, with development focused on three key urban extension garden community areas at Monkton Heathfield, Comeytrowe/Trull and Staplegrove. We have a number of high profile mixed-use schemes planned for our town centre and, at Junction 25 of the M5, we are working with partners to create a 60-acre strategic employment site, with the intention of attracting new and growing businesses to Taunton and delivering 4,000 new jobs.
Our largest garden community area will be Monkton Heathfield, where approximately 4,500 homes are planned, together with employment sites, a district centre and a country park and woodland in the green wedge adjoining the Priorswood area of town. A multi-purpose ‘green necklace’ is planned around the development with allotments, recreation areas and allocated wildlife habitats. A new school has already opened and the Bridgwater and Taunton canal provides an off-road footpath and cycleway into the town centre.
1500 homes, a new primary school and a local centre are envisaged at Staplegrove, along with improved links into the surrounding countryside and cycle and pedestrian routes into Taunton.
A new community at Comeytrowe/Trull will provide approximately 2,000 homes, a primary school and a new green wedge adjoining Galmington stream with open space and social and community facilities. Public transport improvements are also planned with a park and bus site that links to a proposed rapid bus corridor into Taunton.
As these projects progress, Garden Town status and the associated funding will help guide our thinking and enable us to strike that vitally important balance between retaining and improving the town’s character and wonderful environment and our growth aspirations.
Details of the Garden Town proposals submitted to the Government are available on the Council’s website at the following link: http://bit.ly/2hVkOuw
Cllr John Williams
Leader of Taunton Deane Borough Council