THE village nearest to Somerset’s new ‘gigafactory’ will not have to provide any additional housing under its newly-approved Neighbourhood Plan.

The parish of Puriton includes the full extent of the village along with the hamlets of Downend and Dunball and the vast majority of the Gravity site, with the remainder lying in the neighbouring parish of Woolavington.

Following a lengthy consultation and a successful referendum, the village’s Neighbourhood Plan has been formally adopted, giving locals more of a say over new developments in their area.

The plan does not allocate any additional sites for extra housing, arguing that the village is already meeting its housing targets as laid out within Somerset Council’s wider planning policies.

This means the neighbouring village of Woolavington may have to take larger amount of new housing as the £4bn gigafactory is delivered – including Persimmon Homes’ plans for a new community of 1,400 homes.

The parish of Puriton includes junction 23 of the M5 and the Dunball roundabout leading to Bridgwater – which will be upgraded by Somerset Council from the autumn using money from the government’s levelling up fund.

A spokesman said: “We aspire to build on the strong community spirit and pride that local people have for the village and surrounding countryside, by ensuring development does not damage those essential characteristics.

“Development will be accompanied by the necessary growth in amenities and infrastructure and will ensure that Puriton retains its individuality as a historical village, separate from Bridgwater.

“Creating new, and enhancing existing, green spaces along with continued and improved access to the countryside around Puriton is crucial.

“The development at the former Royal Ordnance Factory offers a unique opportunity to realise some of the improvements needed, along with creating local employment opportunities.”

Under the Sedgemoor Local Plan, the village is expected to provide a minimum of 100 new homes up to 2032, in light of the range of services currently provided within its boundaries.

Redrow Homes is currently constructing the Polden Orchards estate, comprising 120 homes, off Woolavington Road at the eastern edge of the village – right next to the south-western edge of the Gravity site.

A spokesman for Puriton Parish Council (which assembled the Neighbourhood Plan from local consultation) said: “The Neighbourhood Plan does not need to allocate housing sites to deliver additional housing to meet the Sedgemoor Local Plan minimum target.

“The income required to buy an average market home for sale is higher than the income available to those on median household incomes.”

The Neighbourhood Plan also commits to delivering a number of transport improvements throughout the village, either as part of or independently to the development of the Gravity site.

These include: