THE first small physical steps towards the construction of up to 650 homes at Jurston Farm in Wellington will be taken next month with the main work starting soon after.

Builder C G Fry will cut down hedgerows necessary for Phase 1 of the project before they are pulled out in May. The developer is also in the process of gaining technical approval for a new roundabout on the A38 and an associated spine road into the site.

C G Fry planning director David Lohfink said: “Assuming we get these building blocks in place it is our intention to be on site in summer.”

The first part of the scheme is for 170 homes with about 50 properties built every year. The project also includes a new school which will be built in the centre of the site near Jurston Farmhouse but work will not begin on that until after Phase 2 of the project is completed.

Mr Lohfink said: “Taunton Deane Borough Council has given detailed planning permission for the first phase and we now have a dormice licence in front of Natural England which will enable us to take out the affected hedgerows in Phase 1.

“That is due to happen during March, exactly when depending on the weather. People will see the hedgerows cut down to 150mm and the hedges will come out in May.”

About six-and-a-half hectares of woodland, including footpaths, has been planted which will provide a new environment for the dormice.

The main part of work in the first few months will involve constructing the roundabout and setting out the roads. Once that is done the ground workers can put in foundations.

The key outline permission for the scheme was granted in December 2015 but C G Fry has consulted over the details with residents who live near where Phase 1 will be built. More consultations will be held for successive phases of the project.

Mr Lohfink added: “We have put quite a lot of effort into talking with the neighbours – people in Beech Hill, Oldway Park and Blackmoor – about the details, the house positions, heights and designs, and what issues that threw up. People saw the plans and gave their views – not everyone got what they wanted but it was nice to have those candid conversations with people.”