FAQ

Each month an update is developed to tell you what to expect on site, providing an accurate and real-time update on how Orchard Grove is progressing. You can read these on our news page and see the how the project is developing on our YouTube channel.

If you are interested in buying a new home in this new community, you can make an appointment to come and see them for yourself. There are Bovis Homes, Linden Homes and Taylor Wimpey sales offices and show homes on site. The teams can also provide information on homeownership support, such as part ownership and military assistance schemes.

Afforable homes are also available at Orchard Grove. Vistry Group is working on this project as a joint venture with LiveWest, the leading South West housing association that owns and manages over 40,000 homes across the region. In addition, Taylor Wimpey offers a shared ownership scheme, powered by Home Stepper. Visit our New Homes page for more information.

Affordable housing refers to shared equity and shared ownership schemes, as well as social rented housing.

At Orchard Grove, Vistry Group is working on this project as a joint venture with LiveWest, the leading South West housing association that owns and manages over 40,000 homes across the region. You can register interest in the Shared Ownership homes at Orchard Grove by calling LiveWest on 0800 027 9801 or by emailing newhomes@livewest.co.uk

Taylor Wimpey offers shared ownership, powered by Home Stepper. Take a look at the ways to get onto the housing ladder at Orchard Grove on our New Homes page.

Orchard Grove Primary School is open. Pupils are in their brand-new school premises and enjoying life as part of the new community. The new site is Somerset’s first net zero school, which means the building is state-of-the-art and fit for the future, which makes it the perfect setting to help support and shape the next generation.

Find out more about the school here https://orchardgrove.bep.ac/ or email office@orchardgrove.bep.ac

Somerset’s first park and bus facility opened in 2026 at Orchard Grove. The Somerset Council facility is already used by residents and will now be open to commuters and other motorists with a free 200-space car park available.

Customers can use the scheduled, commercially operated 22, 22A and X22 bus services operating to and from Wellington and Taunton and travel on new, electric vehicles that are proving popular since their introduction. Normal fares apply.

The new park and bus will complement Taunton’s two park-and-ride services that operate from Silk Mills and Taunton Gateway.

Yes, there are walking and cycle routes connecting Orchard Grove to the surrounding area – including right through to Taunton. At the top of the development, there is direct access to the A38. Further down the community’s main road – Egremont Road – is a footpath and cycle path linking to Lipe Hill Lane, which enables easy access onto the ‘blue route’ into Taunton. Existing public rights of way are being utilised and incorporated, linking to the development’s pedestrian and cycle network.

Each household has allocated parking spaces and residents should use these. Guests can be directed to the visitor spaces on the main road. Those visiting the sales offices are welcome to use the dedicated spaces.

It is vital that Orchard Grove remains as safe as possible for the entire community. The pavement and cycle path must not be used for driving or parking.

Yes, there will be shops within the ‘local centre’. A local centre is land specifically designated for a variety of shopping, commercial and community services for residents. The local centre will be built either side of the spine road, within the Western neighbourhood.

The process is currently underway to source and secure a commercial operator to create the local centre. It isn’t possible to confirm precisely what types or brands of shops, hospitality or leisure facilities might be part of the local centre yet.

Commercial land is available within Orchard Grove, including ‘Comeytrowe Business Park’, which is located at the entrance to the new development just off the A38. This will be one of the next elements of the site to be developed.

Comeytrowe Business Park will provide a variety of options from land deals to a full designed to suit service on a freehold or leasehold basis. Buildings will be built to a specification, which includes the latest sustainability aspects.

With units available from 2,750 sq ft and plots from 1.22 acres, open to a wide variety of uses, this new commercial space offers flexibility and potential. The commercial agent is Alder King and more information and viewings are available. Visit the dedicated website to find out more: www.comeytrowebusinesspark.co.uk

There is a local centre in Orchard Grove and this will include a community facility within it, however there is no obligation to have health centre/GP as part of this. Introducing a healthcare facility or GP practice would be a decision made by the Local Authorities and NHS England.

We would welcome a GP or healthcare facility at Orchard Grove. It would be a highly positive addition to the community with clear and significant benefits to current and future residents. While there is no planning obligation requiring such provision, we would actively support and facilitate a decision by the Local Authority and NHS England to establish healthcare services at the development.

The development includes a dedicated local centre, which is land allocated specifically for shops and community facilities. This offers a flexible and responsive approach to community infrastructure, with excellent scope and potential for healthcare services should the relevant authorities decide to pursue this opportunity.

Yes, there will be allotments at Orchard Grove. Allotments are planned as part of Hortsbridge Park. The design is still being finalised with the planning authority and the parish council, so firm timescales haven’t been set yet. Once the design is agreed, the Orchard Grove Consortium will build the allotments and then hand them over to the parish council.

The parish council is expected to manage the waiting list and allocate plots. As plans are still at an early stage, there isn’t yet a way for residents to register interest, and a timescale for this hasn’t been confirmed. We’ll share updates on the Orchard Grove website as soon as there’s more news, including how to register interest.

Orchard Grove will consist of two neighbourhoods. The Western neighbourhood is under construction and has already welcomed hundreds of residents. The Eastern neighbourhood is still in the very early stages of planning, as its design guide is finalised. Key features of the Eastern neighbourhood include more new homes, multiple areas of parkland, sports pitches, and a new junction connecting the community to Trull.

Every effort will be made to minimise the impact of the building process on residents. Homes will be built within ‘parcels’, which means residential areas will be completed in segments, allowing the construction work to move on and away from newly built homes.

A detailed Construction Environmental Management Plan is submitted by the developers and approved by the Local Authority for each reserved matters planning application, which will show how work will take place in a way that gives ample consideration to those living in the area. 

Respecting, protecting and enhancing the environment is central to the vision of the development. Ecological measures are taken to safeguard wildlife and the natural environment. EAD Ecology is the South West’s leading provider of ecological solutions for design, planning and management projects, and is responsible for ecology on site.

This website is central to keeping everyone updated with news and progress – a monthly ‘what’s happening on site’ is published. Please note that while every effort is made to ensure information is correct at the time of being published, timings may be subject to change.

In addition, the developers are committed to liaising with the Local Authorities to ensure everyone is updated on important issues, made aware of planning applications, and has the opportunity to ask questions. 

The development requires a pumping station, which is a facility that safely transfers foul drainage away from the site. The pumping station has now been built and the majority of the facility is located underground, with only a minimal amount visible at ground level (including a kiosk containing the controls equipment and fencing, which is screened with plants).

It has been designed in accordance with national design guidance to ensure it is reliable and of the highest quality. Modern technology has been harnessed to deal with waste in a safe way that has no impact on the local environmental outside of the facility. The design features ensure that odour and noise are not an issue, with data automatically transmitted to alert Wessex Water if maintenance work is required.

Access comes off the A38; this is dictated by the traffic management plan, which controls all site traffic on or visiting the development. Within the site itself there is a network of roads used for construction. Comeytrowe Road and Comeytrowe Lane will not be used for site traffic. 

Our team of experts have carefully considered the local landscape to mitigate the risk of flooding, as well as looking at the best sustainable drainage solutions for the development. The requirements of the Flood Risk Assessment are being – and will continue to be – met across the site. A surface water drainage strategy has been agreed with the Lead Local Flood Authority, which is consulted on major planning applications. 

Several attenuation basins have already been constructed within the site, ensuring that surface water can successfully drain away at a safe rate.

A roundabout at Honiton Road has been approved within the Outline Planning permission, with the approved access plan setting the position and layout of the new junction. In time, the developers will prepare a more detailed design, which will consider the junction in more detail, including improvements to public realm and landscaping.  

Around 250m west of the junction with Honiton Road, the new main road within the development will cross Dipford Road. The detail and form of the junction will be determined at the reserved matters stage of planning. The recommendation will be to close Dipford Road east of the proposed junction to prevent access through the development site. Dipford Road would, in effect, become a cul-de-sac from Honiton Road. Access to the western side of Dipford Road would be available from within the development site. 

There is a dedicated email where queries can be directed (info@orchard-grove.com). Your email will generate an automated response – followed in time by a full response from our project team. If you do not receive either emails, please check your junk/spam folder. 

You can also take a look at our New Homes page for contact details for each of the developers at Orchard Grove.

Orchard Grove is a growing community, and we want it to be a place where everyone feels safe, welcome, and able to enjoy their surroundings. As more residents move in, we want to remind everyone how to get in touch if something isn’t right, and where different types of concern should be directed: 

• Contact your housebuilder or housing association directly with any queries about your home
• Any site-related security issues, such as damage to shared spaces or concerns about site security, can be reported to info@orchard-grove.com
• Council-run services are provided by Somerset Council. Discover and access these at
• www.somerset.gov.uk
• Any crime or anti-social behaviour should always be reported to Avon and Somerset Police, so that it can be properly logged, investigated and dealt with. In an emergency, or if a crime is happening now, always call 999. Anti-social behaviour that isn’t an emergency, call 101, the non-emergency number. Or report online using the relevant form at www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/report. This covers a wide range of issues, including anti-social driving or riding, community concerns, and a range of other topics that might affect residents. And you can get in touch with your local Neighbourhood Policing Team via www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/your-area