150 New Homes Approved Near Somerset Gigafactory Despite Opposition
Outline plans for up to 150 new homes in Woolavington have been approved by Somerset Council's planning committee north, positioning the development less than two miles from the rapidly progressing £4 billion Agratas gigafactory. The battery manufacturing facility at the Gravity enterprise zone between Puriton and Woolavington is expected to create approximately 4,000 jobs once fully operational, driving demand for local housing.
Development Details and Infrastructure
Bloor Homes South West will construct the properties on Cossington Lane at Woolavington's eastern edge, following a public consultation held in May. Vehicle access will be from Cossington Lane, with new pavements installed along the southern boundary toward the Polden Hills Veterinary Centre and the Lock's Way active travel route to Bawdrip, which connects to National Cycle Network route 3.
A dedicated pedestrian and cyclist access point will be created onto Woolavington Hill (B3141), north of existing homes on Southfield Close, providing residents with direct routes to local amenities including The Co-operative Food store and a pharmacy. The development will feature substantial public open space at its eastern boundary, incorporating new play facilities to maintain a clear separation between Woolavington and the adjacent village of Cossington.
Affordable Housing and Community Contributions
Of the 150 planned properties, 45 will be designated as affordable housing, meeting the council's requirement of 30 percent affordable units for developments of ten homes or more within the former Sedgemoor area. Beyond the housing itself, Bloor Homes has committed over £350,000 toward public transport enhancements and local cycling infrastructure improvements, supplementing connections being established by Agratas.
Additionally, more than £100,000 will be allocated to the Polden Medical Centre to expand either its Woolavington surgery on Woolavington Road near the primary school or its Edington surgery, which recently received £1.14 million in government funding for additional space.
Local Opposition and Traffic Concerns
The approval came despite significant opposition from residents and some councillors, who raised concerns about increased traffic and pressure on already strained local services. During the planning committee meeting in Bridgwater on March 11, local resident Joe Stradling argued strongly against the development.
"This is the wrong place for this development – no-one in Cossington or Woolavington supports this," Stradling stated. "Woolavington has no pub, the school is over-subscribed, and the doctors' surgery is struggling to cope. Traffic is already problematic, and we're probably talking about 300 additional cars from this development. It's unacceptable."
Alan Sharp, chairman of Woolavington Parish Council, highlighted specific traffic concerns, noting that the junction of the A39 and B3141 is already operating beyond capacity. "No evidence has been presented to show how a 'modal shift' from cars to cycling or public transport can be achieved," Sharp said, questioning the feasibility of reducing vehicular impact in what he described as a rural community dependent on cars.
Councillor Perspectives and Committee Decision
Councillor Matt Martin, representing the neighbouring King Alfred division, expressed unusual opposition to the development. "I don't generally make adverse comments on large-scale developments," Martin acknowledged, "but in this instance I do think this is in the wrong place. I go through the A39 junction frequently, and it is always a sticking point."
However, Councillor Alistair Hendry offered a contrasting view, citing technical assessments from highways experts. "Our highways team are very technical, very educated and know exactly what they are doing – they say it's safe and acceptable, and that's good enough for me," Hendry stated, noting that average car ownership per three-bedroom house is approximately 1.4 vehicles.
Following nearly two hours of debate, the committee approved the proposals by a vote of five to three, with one abstention. A reserved matters application providing detailed design and layout specifications is expected before the end of the year.
Broader Development Context
This approval follows the Planning Inspectorate's rejection of a previous application by Gladman Developments for 125 homes on the same site in June 2021. Meanwhile, Somerset Council is preparing decisions on two additional housing proposals in the area: 170 homes south of Vicarage Road adjacent to the Bloor Homes site, submitted by South West Strategic Developments, and 85 homes south of Woolavington Road proposed by Gladman Developments.
The council's decision reflects the ongoing tension between housing demand generated by major economic investments like the Agratas gigafactory and community concerns about infrastructure capacity and quality of life in rural Somerset villages.
