ANOTHER new housing estate has been proposed on the edge of Wellington by a speculative investor group working with the same planning firm which previously wanted to build on farm fields south of the A38 relief road.

Pegasus Group, which recently had its controversial plans refused for 250 houses in the countryside near Middle Green Farm, is now working with Cheshire-based Carden Group.

It is promoting an application for up to 225 new homes on 31 acres of agricultural land stretching from Taunton Road behind the Cadeside Caravan and Motorhome Club to industrial units in Poole.

A new, traffic light-controlled junction would be created for access off Taunton Road opposite Mount Vets Animal Hospital.

Carden describes itself as ‘investors in strategic land for residential and commercial development’ with a focus on buying freehold land with future development potential.

Its application to Somerset Council seeks to persuade the planning authority that the site should be accepted as a departure from the local plan which expires in 2028 because it is outside the boundary of Wellington and located in open countryside in West Buckland parish.

Carden said it briefed its plans to town councillors in Wellington and parish councillors in West Buckland in October, 2023.

The company said there had been ongoing engagement with the town council with ‘productive discussions’ held with councillors during the past two years which had been instrumental in shaping the masterplan for the development.

It said an information leaflet had also been delivered to local residents and key stakeholders last year setting out its emerging proposals and asking for comments, which were ‘continuing to be received at the time of writing’.

Carden said the development would include a mix of two to four-bedroom properties, with 57 of them being ‘affordable homes’ for rent and shared ownership.