NORTH Petherton is one step closer to getting a new doctors’ surgery after a welcome commitment from Somerset health bosses.
The town has experienced significant housing growth in recent years at either end of the settlement – with nearly 500 additional homes lying on the horizon as the neighbouring Bridgwater Gateway site is built out.
West of England Developments (Taunton) Ltd. published proposals in late-2023 to deliver a new housing development on the A38 Taunton Road, which will include a new GP surgery to replace the current facilities on Church Walk.
Following extensive discussions with Symphony Healthcare Services (which runs the current surgery) and the NHS Somerset integrated care board (ICB), the developer has received a formal commitment that this new surgery will be delivered if planning permission for the wider development is secured.
The developer is now working on a formal planning application to Somerset Council, which will go out for public consultation later in the year.
The development site lies on the eastern side of the A38 between Park Lane and Parkers Field, opposite the Carrots Farm development of 20 homes which has been constructed by the Taunton-based Summerfield Developments.
The developer originally intended to deliver 60 new homes within the site; however, this has been reduced down to 45 homes (including 14 affordable homes) to reflect the need for a larger medical facility, following discussions with NHS Somerset.
The new medical centre will comprise 1,200 sq m of usable space and have 60 car parking spaces near the entrance to the wider development site.
A 66-bed care home will also be delivered within the site by LNT Care Developments, which is currently constructing an identically-sized facility off the A358 Furnham Road in Chard.
At the eastern end of the site, the developer will provide a new scout hut (with additional parking) and a junior cricket pitch, with footpaths and cycle links connecting these facilities onto the A38.
A spokesman for the developer said: “The need for a new medical centre has been raised consistently throughout the consultation process, and many told us that development could be supported if delivery of this key infrastructure is guaranteed.
“Within Somerset, North Petherton Surgery is the most under-sized practice with the highest density of patients.”
The existing surgery was one of 14 GP surgeries which Somerset health bosses identified in September 2020 would need to either expand or relocate in light of local housing growth.
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The Somerset NHS Foundation Trust installed two Portakabins in the surgery grounds to provide additional capacity – one in 2021 during the coronavirus pandemic and one in early-2024.
Somerset Council ruled in July 2024 these Portakabins can remain in place until July 2029 if needed to ensure the surgery would have sufficient capacity until a new medical centre could be delivered.
In January 2025, the ICB’s commissioning committee considered an initial business case for the new surgery, informing Symphony that the proposals were viable and it would “will work with the practice to agree finer details once planning permission is given.”
A spokesman for West of England Developments added: “The intention is that we would provide the land for the medical centre within the development site and apply for its outline planning permission.
“In the event that outline planning permission is granted, Symphony would prepare and submit a detailed planning application for the medical centre and construct the facility on site.”
West of England Developments is currently progressing a number of housing developments in settlements along the M5 corridor in Somerset – including the Coronation Way development of 28 homes in Creech St. Michael.
Its sister company, Cherwyn Developments, secured permission in May 2024 to 200 new homes on Nynehead Road in Wellington – which will provide the spine road connecting the town to its planning new railway station (whose fate will be determined when the government’s spending review concludes in the late-spring).
An outline planning application for the North Petherton site is expected to come forward within a matter of months, with the council due to determine the plans by the end of the year.