THE final stage of a major housing development on the edge of Taunton can get under way after plans for 90 new homes were approved.

Persimmon Homes South West is currently delivering the Hartnells Farm estate on the A3259 Monkton Heathfield Road, to the north of the Monkton Heathfield urban extension.

The development will eventually comprise a total of 320 homes, with outline planning permission being granted by Taunton Deane Borough Council in November 2015.

The Exeter-based developer submitted proposals for the final 90 homes (dubbed ‘phase four’) in September 2023 – though a decision was delayed due to the ongoing phosphates crisis.

Following extensive negotiations with its planning officers and Natural England, Somerset Council has now granted permission for these remaining homes – with Persimmon and its sister company Charles Church expected to begin construction within a matter of weeks.

The phase four site lies at the northern edge of the Hartnells Farm site, with green landscaping separating the development from the existing homes on Sidbrook in West Monkton.

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The new homes will be accessed from Channon Road, which connects the site directly to the A3259 towards Taunton town centre.

All 90 of the new homes will be fitted with electric vehicle charging points, and 25 per cent will be affordable – the equivalent of 22 properties, including three accessible bungalows.

New trees will be planted along the northern and eastern boundaries of the site, on top of new woodland being created off-site at Flyboat Farm near Pitminster in the Blackdown Hills – which will prevent any net increase of phosphates within the Somerset Levels and Moors catchment area.

Persimmon managing director Dan Heathcote said: “We are very proud of the work we have done so far at Hartnells Farm, and we are delighted to have finally secured permission to complete our vision for the new community we have helped build there.

“This latest planning permission means we are now one step closer to bringing more new, high-quality homes to the area, opening up the dream of home ownership to even more local people, addressing housing need in the Taunton area.

“I’d like to thank the officers at Somerset Council for working pro-actively with us and look forward to carrying on that constructive relationship going forward.”

The council approved the plans through the delegated powers of its planning officers, rather than a public decision by its planning committee west (which handles major applications within the former Somerset West and Taunton area).

In addition to its Hartnells Farm commitments, Persimmon will be responsible for delivering a significant proportion of the homes within phase two of the Monkton Heathfield urban extension (also known as Langaller Park), alongside Redrow Homes.

A decision on the phase two proposals – which include 1,450 new homes, a new school and significant commercial space – has been repeatedly delayed by protracted negotiations between Somerset Council and the developers.

A decision on these proposals is now expected to be taken by the late-spring.