Taunton children cannot play cricket and rugby due to developer’s road delays
This is according to a local councillor.
Taunton children are being denied the chance to play cricket and rugby because housing developers have not delivered local facilities, according to a local councillor.
As part of phase one of the Monkton Heathfield urban extension, land was set aside to the south of the A38 relief road to provide local sports pitches, with permission being granted for these facilities in January 2017.
West Monkton Parish Council put forward plans in June 2024 to deliver a rugby pitch, a cricket pitch and a BMX pump track within this parcel of land, with car parking and changing rooms being provided near the existing access.
But their efforts have been stymied by Persimmon Homes South West failing to complete the access road from the Hyde Lane roundabout.
The developer has apologised to the community and said it was making every effort to complete the access by the end of September.
Councillor Norman Cavill (whose Monkton and North Curry division includes Monkton Heathfield) raised the issue when the full council met in Bridgwater on July 16.
He said: “The first phase of Monkton Heathfield required the developer to provide a number of benefits in addition to homes.
“An excellent 420-place primary school and community centre have been provided. However planned employment land, sports facilities and shops have not been.
“West Monkton Parish Council has worked hard and well with the developers since the start in 2011, to provide a development for a community fit for the area.
“When all the homes were built there were no sports facilities available.
“With a development of some 1,500 new houses, there are now many young children – it is recorded that there some 500 children aged 7 to 17 in our area – who are without cricket and rugby pitches to play on.
“These are children who are applying to West Monkton Cricket Club and Taunton Rugby Football Club but cannot be accommodated.”
Following protracted negotiations between Persimmon Homes and Somerset Council, West Monkton Parish Council agreed in August 2023 to provide the facilities “in a timely manner”, with the Section 106 agreement for the site being amended to reflect its new responsibilities.
The parish council applied for planning permission to deliver the new facilities in June 2024, with Persimmon promising that it would provide access to the site from the Hyde Lane roundabout by August 2024.
To date, no planning permission for the facilities has been granted, and the road remains incomplete.
Mr Cavill said: “The road plans are required for Persimmon to put the road in, and for that and other reasons they have delayed their start.
“In the last 18 months, the parish council has completed works making available an inaccessible rugby and cricket pitch.
“With no planning permission and no road, water, electricity supply or drainage from the developer, the parish council is at a standstill.
“I bring this forward as it clearly demonstrates the lack of enforcement in this past on this development, as well as the present predicament.
“Can we have your support to resolve the present situation?”
The council’s planning committee west is expected to shortly consider plans for the second phase of the Monkton Heathfield urban extension, comprising 1,450 homes, a ‘through school’ (combining primary and secondary education on the same site) and other amenities.
This development (which has been christened Langaller Park) has been subject to numerous delays as the masterplan has been tweaked, with the committee last discussing (and electing to postpone a decision on the plans) in November 2024.
Mr Cavill concluded: “This development may be the first development using the ‘garden town’ principles.
“I know there has been much debate over the viability of this site, and therefore I am concerned for the delivery of the promised Section 106 contributions.
“Can you ensure that our enforcement team will be up to strength and have the ability to ensure delivery on this site, thereby not leaving us legacy issues to resolve in the future?”
Councillor Mike Rigby, portfolio holder for economic development, planning and assets, responded that this was not an issue for the council’s enforcement team, stating that the responsibility lay with Persimmon to rectify these issues.
Mr Rigby (who represents the Lydeard division to the north-west of Taunton) said: “There is no legal obligation in the deed of variation for the construction of the road access, which was signed in July 2023, and so this is not a planning enforcement matter.
“Under the draft land transfer document, the road and services were to be provided by Persimmon within 12 months to the parish council.
“The delay is with Persimmon. We made inquiries with the developer, and we understand that they intend to sign off and commission the work shortly, with a view to delivery in September.
“The planning application was initially subject to objections from our highways team and Sport England. Our highways team has worked with the parish council to agree a suitable scheme, and this permission is due to be issued imminently.”
In a joint statement, Persimmon Homes and Redrow Homes confirmed that work on the access road was expected to be completed by the autumn.
A spokesperson said: “We are pleased to confirm that the access road to the open space on-site is expected to be in place by the end of September.
“This will allow local authorities to maximise the land’s potential for sports pitches, providing the promised elements of the development that will help make this community sustainable.
“We’re proud to have already delivered the popular primary school and community centre, and we apologise for the delay for the completion of the road.”