Plans submitted for second phase of 1,500 home Somerset development

Plans for the second phase of the £400 million development include a further 150 homes, including affordable housing on the former RAF Locking site.

The proposed development comprises a sustainable community that would be built over the next 20 years and would include around 1,250 homes and 650,000 square feet of employment space.

On completion of the project, additional retail and community facilities are planned to be delivered at the 200-acre site, with 2,000 jobs expected to be generated within the employment space.

"This planning application forms an important part of our ambitions to create local homes, jobs and opportunities at Locking Parklands," said Jay Lambe, HCA area manager. "These are exciting times for the project and the wider area which stands to benefit from the scheme. It’s really pleasing to see it all coming together after work of partners over recent months."

St. Modwen plans to develop a mix of properties amongst the 150 proposed homes in the second phase of the development ranging from one-bedroom apartments to four-bedroom detached homes. The majority will be sold privately with 30% allocated as affordable housing, the HCA said.

The application for the second phase of the development has been submitted in the wake of a first phase, which consisted of 100 residential units. Of those units, one third have been reserved under the HCA's HomeBuy Direct Scheme, one third have been sold to a local housing association and the last third are private properties that are expected to be completed by November.

"We have constructed the first homes to a higher standard than required by building regulations, making each home up to 25 per cent more energy efficient than the standard newly built home, which is proving very popular," said Rupert Joseland, south west regional director for St. Modwen.

"The proposals are for the next phase to be built to the same high standards and to have a similarly modern, clean architectural style with large windows and generous living accommodation," said Joseland.

The HCA has invested around £6m in the first phase of development, taking the total level of investment in Locking Parklands to more than £12.2m since 2002.