SOMERSET residents are being urged to give their initial thoughts on two major housing developments planned near the county’s new £4bn ‘gigafactory’.

Agratas published revised plans in April for its complex within the Gravity enterprise zone between Puriton and Woolavington, which will manufacture electric vehicle batteries for Jaguar Land Rover and could eventually provide up to 40 per cent of all electric vehicle batteries for the UK domestic market.

With construction on this complex expected to ramp up later in the year, South West Strategic Developments and Bloor Homes South West have submitted separate plans for major housing developments on the eastern edge of Woolavington, providing a total of 320 new homes.

Local residents have only a couple of weeks to give their feedback on the initial proposals, with formal plans expected to be submitted to Somerset Council later in the year.

The two sites lie to the east of the B3141 Woolavington Hill, sandwiched between Vicarage Road to the north and Cossington Lane to the south.

South West Strategic Developments intends to deliver 170 homes south of Vicarage Road, with access being provided from both Vicarage Road and Woolavington Road (via the demolition of an existing property).

The planned homes will wrap around the existing industrial estate, with a new spine road crossing over Combe Lane (which will be closed eastbound).

The homes will range from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom houses, with 51 of the properties being affordable (meeting the council’s 30 per cent target for new major developments within the former Sedgemoor area).

A spokesman for Grass Roots Planning (representing the developer) said: “The type of affordable housing that will be delivered will include both social rented (which is circa 50 per cent of market rate and, therefore, very affordable) and low-cost purchase properties.

“The scheme will deliver areas of the site as publicly accessible open space, and this will accommodate new play areas as well as more informal spaces.

“These will be accessible to not only the new residents of the site, but existing residents in the area.”

South West Strategic Developments secured permission in August 2024 to build seven new homes on the Loadpool Farm site in Othery, and recently submitted revised plans for 38 homes and a convenience store on a larger parcel of land on the opposite side of the A372 New Road.

On Cossington Lane, Bloor Homes South West intends to construct 150 homes across two agricultural fields behind the existing homes on Woolavington Hill.

Gladman Developments previously tried to secure planning permission for 125 homes on the same site, but was denied this opportunity by the Planning Inspectorate in June 2021.

Access will be provided from Cossington Lane, with possible new pedestrian and cycling links being provided along the road to link up with the Lock’s Way active travel route to Bawdrip, which forms part of route 3 of the National Cycle Network (NCN).

An additional walking and cycling link will be provided onto Woolavington Hill, allowing residents to access local amenities such as The Co-operative Food store and the local pharmacy.

Significant public open space will be provided at the site’s eastern edge, including new play areas, to provide a buffer with the countryside and separate Woolavington from the neighbouring village of Cossington.

A spokesman said: “The site at Cossington Lane is less than two miles in distance from the Agratas battery facility, which is bringing significant investment to the area.

“The proposals represent a major change for Woolavington, and its ability to support additional sustainable development opportunities, particularly noting the increase in employment that the site will provide during the construction phase and once it is fully operational.

“It is considered that Woolavington is now well-placed to support new residential development and that this site provides a genuine opportunity to meet identified needs in a sustainable location.”

Bloor is currently delivering 237 homes on King’s Drive in Bridgwater, forming the final piece within the North East Bridgwater housing allocation within the Sedgemoor Local Plan.

Woolavington is expected to see significant housing growth in the coming years in light of the Agratas site and limited land being available within the neighbouring village of Puriton.

In addition to these two sites, Persimmon Homes Severn Valley teased plans in December 2023 for its ‘West Woolavington’ neighbourhood, which will eventually comprise around 1,400 homes, a primary school, shops and new playing pitches.

Wain Homes had secured permission for a further 175 homes on the western side of Woolavington Hill, but will now have to resubmit detailed plans for the site after planning permission lapsed in March.

To give your views on the Cossington Lane proposals, visit www.landatcossingtonlane.co.uk before May 21.

To provide feedback on the Woolavington Hill plans, visit www.woolavingtonhill-consultation.com before May 30.

Detailed planning applications for both development sites are expected to be submitted to Somerset Council by the early-autumn.