Save the Blackdown Vale

26/10/2026

SAVE THE BLACKDOWN VALE

Help Protect Our Countryside, Wildlife, Heritage & Future Generations
Once our countryside is lost, we may never get it back.

The Blackdown Vale is more than just fields and open countryside. It is a beautiful, historic landscape shaped by over 1,000 years of farming, communities and nature. It is home to precious wildlife, productive farmland, historic buildings and a rich ecological and cultural heritage.

Now, this treasured part of Somerset is facing the threat of large-scale development.

Proposals involving approximately 11,000 new homes across the Blackdown Vale could dramatically and permanently transform this historic rural landscape.

We believe that once this land is developed, much of what makes the Blackdown Vale so special could be lost forever.

WHO ARE WE?

Save the Blackdown Vale (StBV) is a community-led campaign dedicated to protecting the landscape, natural environment, heritage and rural character of the Blackdown Vale.

We recognise the need for new homes and sustainable communities. However, we believe development should be proportionate, carefully planned and focused on appropriate growth around existing settlements.

We want to ensure that decisions affecting our countryside are based on independent evidence, proper environmental assessments and meaningful consultation with the people who live here.

👇 Please donate or share using the link below:

SAVE THE BLACKDOWN VALE Help Protect Our Countryside, Wildlife, Heritage & Future Gene… Louise Morgan needs your support for HELP Save The Blackdown Vale

01/10/2026

A large crowd of locals gathered last week to draw attention to the petition, registering heartfelt objections to the proposed Taylor Wimpey new
town in the Blackdown Vale.

The petition has attracted over 1800 signatures – that’s more than the cumulative
total of all the people living in the parishes, that would be blighted by the proposed
development. This includes Stoke St Mary, Corfe, Orchard Portman, Staple
Fitzpaine and Neroche, demonstrating just how concerning the plans are.

Adding further weight to the petition are the hundreds of comments posted by
individuals. These highlight the value local people place on
the rural landscape of the area, set within the backdrop of the Blackdown Hills
National Landscape. This proposed new town would create negative environmental and wildlife impacts. There would be a huge impact on Taunton town caused by the lack of connectivity and infrastructure. This makes the location totally unsuitable for a new settlement of 7000 houses and 16,000 people.

The petition will be handed to Leader of Somerset Council, Bill Revans.
The message conveyed on the petition is clear:
We believe that Somerset needs no new settlements; rather, that housing growth should be through organic development.

We object to the proposed Taylor Wimpey new town in the Blackdown Vale east of the M5, a settlement the size of Wellington, with all the strain on Taunton’s facilities that it will bring. Taunton should not be divided by the M5 - it should remain the boundary for the town.

23/09/2026

Campaign Photo - Friday 25th Sep 4 pm

We would like as many people as possible to gather for a publicity photo for the Save the Blackdown Vale campaign with a backdrop of the Blackdown Hills. We will have a copy of the recent signed petition which we will then submit to Somerset Council to demonstrate the strength of feeling. The best location is the public footpath between Taunton Racecourse and Orchard Portman church.
Directions:
The Racecourse have kindly offered the use of their car park in front of the Grandstand, so drive in via the main entrance which is located on the LHS of the Corfe Road. Park by 3:45 pm and walk across the footpath in the centre of the racecourse (follow the railings) towards Orchard Portman Church – we will gather half way down on the public footpath for 4 pm (what3words ///forgotten.obliging.cucumber). Attendance will acknowledge acceptance of being photographed.
Please do support the campaign by turning up with your families as well after school.

04/09/2026

Call for Sites part 2
If you thought the Taylor Wimpey proposals were bad, the Call for Sites has revealed the full extent of the intended obliteration of the Blackdown Vale. There are another 4,500 houses to add to Taylor Wimpey’s 7,000. A population of 25,300.
The M5 has been the boundary for Taunton since it was built. The Vale can take some organic development to enhance the current settlements- maybe 50 houses, but nothing like this.
Bill Revans is the leader of Somerset Council – email him; write to him to tell him what a travesty this would be. [email protected] County Hall, The Crescent, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4DY

03/08/2026

https://www.itv.com/watch/news/residents-fight-plans-for-7000-new-homes-near-somerset-beauty-spot/wq9pprv

This is what disappears under concrete if Taylor Wimpey gets its way- the setting for the Blackdown Hills

Watch the latest from ITV News - Taylor Wimpey, the developer behind the proposals, says the planned site will create a "self-sustaining community".

28/07/2026

The petition needs your support. Facebook were iffy about this link but I think we have cured the problem. Go to blackdownvale.org.uk. If that works, please share with others.

26/07/2026

It's time for a petition. Please go to our website (in links) for how to join.

Please share this post

20/07/2026

PRESS RELEASE JULY 20 TH 2026
Save the Blackdown Vale
Contact: 07900 685 303

New Town Proposals Spark Outrage
A packed crowd attended the launch of the Save the Blackdown Vale campaign
held at Stoke St Mary village Hall, Taunton on Wednesday July 15 th .
The capacity crowd came together following the revelation that Taylor Wimpey have
proposed to build a new town of more than 16,000 people on land to the East of
the M5. This would swallow the parishes of Stoke St Mary , Neroche and West
Hatch. It comprises 1100 acres of land purchased by Taylor Wimpey from the Crown
Estate in 2018. Villagers are up in arms since there has always been a commitment
from all local politicians that there would never be substantial development east of
the M5. This is in order to prevent urban sprawl, thus retaining the identity of
Taunton, the county town of Somerset instead of cutting the town in half by the
motorway.

The first step of the campaign is focusing on the urgent need to respond to the Local
Plan Scoping Consultation, just published by Somerset Council, which lists potential
development sites across Somerset. This includes the proposal for a new town, the
size of Wellington. The consultation closes on Friday July 24 th .
Colin Fisher, of the Save the Blackdown Vale campaign said:
‘It’s essential that people respond to this consultation so that the planners at
Somerset Council and elected Somerset Councillors hear the voice of local people.
This is a completely inappropriate development which would obliterate the
Blackdown Vale which is the unique setting for the Blackdown Hills National
Landscape (AONB). Far from being smothered in concrete is needs to be
protected.’

Rebecca Pow, former Environment Minister also of the Save the Blackdown Vale
campaign said:

‘This is some of the best farm land in Somerset which is vital for food production and
our future food security, once it is gone it’s gone and it should not be given up.
There is also precious ancient woodland next to the proposed new town and a

valued Site of Scientific Interest. Both of which would be jeopardised by this
proposal.’

Rob Hossel, who gave the presentation at the public meeting, stressed:

‘ The essence of Somersets’ character is its rural nature and whilst people welcome
development to ensure sustainability it needs be organic development integrated
with existing communities, not development that totally changes the nature of a
place.’

There has been a tremendous response following the first meeting of the campaign
with over 160,000 views on the page demonstrating the strength of feeling
this proposed new town has sparked.

For further guidance on responding to the consultation go to:
www.blackdownvale.org.uk
F Savetheblackdownvale@saveTaunton

16/07/2026

Taylor Wimpey has been flushed out. The map shows the New Town they want to build in the Blackdown Vale. It is the size of Wellington. And it doesn’t include the other developers.

We had our first campaign meeting last night. A full recording can be found here; https://www.youtube.com/

A copy of the slide presentation is available on our website (blackdownvale.org.uk) together with guidance on how to respond to Somerset Council's planning consultation.

So if you want to make a difference, please either

- respond to Somerset Council's planning consultation
- write to your Councillor
- write to your MP.

We will be holding meetings around the Vale in the coming months. Please stay posted.

07/07/2026

EDITED TO ADD: WE ARE REALLY WORRIED ABOUT HAVING TO TURN PEOPLE AWAY TO THIS MEETING. IT WAS INTENDED FOR THE PEOPLE OF STOKE ST MARY PC AND NEIGHBOURS. WE ASSURE YOU THAT THERE WILL BE GUIDANCE ON HOW TO RESPOND TO THE CONSULTATION, AVAILABLE ON THIS PAGE/ON THE WEBSITE AFTER THE MEETING, SO YOU CAN ALL HAVE YOUR SAY. NUMBERS OF RESPONSES ARE KEY. THE CONSULTATION CLOSES 24TH JULY, SO PLS WATCH THIS SPACE.

PLEASE NOTE; THIS MEETING HAS BEEN BOUGHT FORWARD TO 6PM DUE TO A POTENTIAL ENGLAND WORLD CUP MATCH 9WEDS 15TH JULY

Due to overwhelming interest in this meeting, we have regrettably decided to limit attendance to local people. We will be inviting key people from neighbouring parishes.

We are hoping to record the meeting and post it on YouTube, for those who are unable to attend. If you are attending, you will need to agree to the meeting being recorded.

The main purpose is to explain how best to respond to the Somerset Council consultation. Again, guidelines will be posted on this page and on this website: blackdownvale.org.uk, after the meeting.

Some local press will be invited.