A NEW railway station for Wellington could be built without going through a full planning application procedure.

Network Rail said it would use ‘permitted development rights’ which shortcut the usual planning process and means it only needs Somerset Council to accept the plans without going through full public consultation and debate.

It is a form of planning procedure which is often used for nationally important infrastructure.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: “Since the business case was approved, we have been working closely with our partners to develop the proposals.

“We are continuing to work closely with local authorities and ecology specialists to minimise the impact of construction on the local environment.”

The Wellington station is currently scheduled to be open by late 2028.