Bridgwater residents facing a year of roadworks

The new junction will be situated on the A39 Quantock Road in Bridgwater

Bridgwater residents face nearly a year of roadworks for a new junction, which will serve two major housing developments.

The land either side of the A39 Quantock Road, at the western entrance to Bridgwater, has been allocated for new housing within the Sedgemoor Local Plan.

Two sites are expected to deliver up to 1,200 new homes between them.

Planning applications for both sites have been publicly approved.

A new school and a neighbourhood centre, which may include a shop, village hall or healthcare facilities are also part of the plans.

Wembdon Parish Council has confirmed that work on the new A39 junction will begin in mid-November and is expected to take a year to complete.

During construction, a 20mph (32km/ph) speed limit will be in place.

A parish council spokesman said: "The junction work will not be light controlled (except for some night-time works) to ensure traffic flow and limit traffic cutting through Wembdon."

Approved plans for 675 homes on the northern site of the A39 Quantock Road in Bridgwater by developers Cavanna Homes and Martin Grant Homes

"Advance warning signage will be in place and letter drops will be undertaken to the affected properties."

On the northern site, Cavanna Homes (South West Ltd.) and Martin Grant Homes put forward plans for 675 homes, along with a primary school and neighbourhood centre, which were approved twice by Sedgemoor District Council's development committee - once in October 2020, and again with revised plans in December 2021.

The parish council confirmed: "Cavanna Homes expects to start building houses in June 2024, with the first sales on the Cokerhurst site taking place from March 2025.

"The homes are expected to be built at a rate of five per month, with seven percent of the first phase of 238 homes (16 properties) being classed as 'affordable'.

To the south of the A39, 354 new homes are be developed by Persimmon Homes Severn Valley

The southern site, which lies west of the Quantock Road Cemetery, is intended to be developed by Persimmon Homes Severn Valley, with councillors voting to approve plans for up to 354 new homes in March 2021.

A parish council spokesman said: "No planning consent has yet been granted for the Persimmon homes on the Durleigh side of the A39, but some work will start on the junction in readiness.

"A temporary footpath diversion will be in place to ensure safety along the A39 avoiding construction work."

Somerset Council confirmed in August that the cost of delivering the junction would be entirely borne by Cavanna Homes.