Allowing new homes would be 'thin end of the wedge'
Wellington Town Council voted on Monday to oppose the proposals for a site to the south of the A38 relief road.
It comes after about 90 people attended an earlier council meeting about the plans, which include 63 affordable homes.
The company behind the plans, West Country-based land investor Wellington LVA, said it was aware of "local concerns" over infrastructure and it would look to make "proportionate contributions" if its application was successful.
More news stories for Somerset
Listen to the latest news for Somerset
Wellington mayor Janet Lloyd said: "If this proposal is agreed it will be the thin end of the wedge and the end of the green space between the A38 and the M5."
The site is made up of five agricultural fields, totalling 13.7 hectares, between Oldway Road - the A38 - to the north and Middle Green Farm to the south.
An initial consultation launched by Wellington LVA is open until 21 March.
Dave Farrow, chief executive and town clerk of the town council, said a Local Plan drawn up in recent years concluded any new homes to the south of the relief road "wouldn't be appropriate".
"It wouldn't enable that development to be part of the community of Wellington - it would be separated by that main road," he said.
Mr Farrow said access from the new homes to the town centre would be down Swains Lane which "narrows significantly" at the town end.
He also said the town council was concerned about flooding.
"Geographically the site is above the level of the town so water will find its way down.
"It's essential water infrastructure is looked at as part of this process if the development goes ahead," he added.
On the promised 63 affordable homes, Mr Farrow said there were other sites already identified in the town where such housing could be built.
Gideon Amos, MP for Taunton and Wellington, has also come out against the plans.
"On other proposed developments, I have argued that we need housing and particularly homes which are genuinely affordable to local people," he said.
"But the relief road is, and should remain, Wellington's natural boundary.
"Developers mustn't try to take advantage of the fact the new [Somerset Council] Local Plan is now being prepared to get unsustainable sites, in the setting of the Wellington Monument, built upon," Mr Amos said.
The town council had previously considered plans for developing the area in 2023, when it formally agreed to oppose the proposals.
Wellington LVA said that proposed site is within "easy walking and cycling distance" of a range of services and facilities and that the town of Wellington benefitted from its location close to Taunton and the M5 corridor.
"These credentials will be enhanced further with the potential re-opening of the Wellington Train Station," a spokesperson said.
They added: "Wellington is a sustainable market town which is identified within the existing Taunton Deane Core Strategy as a secondary focus for growth second only to Taunton."
The spokesperson said if the plans were approved, contributions could be made via a Section 106 agreement or Community Infrastructure Levy funding.
Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.
Somerset Council 'could still go bust'
Plans for 315 new homes in Somerset village
https://www.oldwayroadconsultation.co.uk/
https://www.wellingtontowncouncil.co.uk/
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Journals
39 minutes ago
- Business Journals
A culture of compassion: How one Sacramento employer showed up when it mattered most
It's the phone call you never want to get: A grandparent slips away in the night. A parent unexpectedly passes. A loved one's illness takes a sudden turn. In these moments, everything stops, but the decisions don't. What now? Where do we begin? How will we afford this? When Angie, an HR director of a mid-sized Sacramento-based logistics company, received news that three of her team members - at three different sites - had each lost a loved one within just six days of each other, she worried about how she could help. One warehouse associate had lost his grandmother, a team lead at a Citrus Heights location was in need of cross-country travel arrangements to bury her father, and a senior dispatcher was quietly grieving the loss of his adult son, unsure how to even begin planning a service. Each employee had a different story but, all needed the same thing: support. A No-Cost Benefit With Real Impact: At Dignity Memorial®, we believe that no family should have to navigate grief alone or unprepared. That's why we created the Dignity Memorial Funeral Benefit Program, a no-cost offering now available to participating organizations and their employees/members. This unique benefit doesn't just support your team in their time of loss, it supports their families, too. expand What Our Program Includes: Employees/Members have access to exclusive services and savings at any Dignity Memorial provider nationwide, whether they choose to make arrangements in advance or at the time of need. This benefit extends to their spouse/domestic partner, and both the employee/member and their partners children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents - whether they live locally or across the country. 10% savings on all funeral or cremation products and services [1] 10% savings on cemetery property, merchandise, and services [1] National transferability of prearranged services at no additional cost [2] 13 months of unlimited grief support via our 24-hour Compassion Helpline® [3] Bereavement travel assistance to help loved ones attend services, near or far Testimonies from the Team Carlos: 'My grandma raised me. Losing her was like losing a parent. I didn't know where to begin. Angie reminded me about the funeral benefit, and from the first call, the Dignity Memorial team took care of everything. They treated my family with respect and explained every option. It was a gift to not have to figure it all out alone, not to mention the space I had to grieve.' Janelle: 'When my dad died suddenly, I was panicked about the cost and the coordination, but the Dignity Memorial Bereavement Travel team got me a last-minute flight to Georgia, helped my sister book her flight too, and even found us a hotel near the cemetery. I had no idea my job offered that kind of support.' Marcus: 'My son died by suicide. I couldn't speak about it for weeks. But when I was ready, Dignity Memorial helped me plan a private, respectful memorial. And after, I used their 24-Hour Compassion Helpline. I didn't think grief counseling would help, but it did. It saved me.' A Workplace That Cares: Why Supporting Grieving Employees Matters In today's world, compassion is a competitive advantage, because grief doesn't stay at home, it follows your employees into meetings, deadlines, and performance reviews. The ability to offer practical support during loss isn't just kind, it's good business. Providing this benefit communicates a clear message: You care about your employees and their families beyond their day-to-day work. It tells them they matter, even in the most personal and vulnerable moments of life. When support shows up, practically and compassionately, it makes a lasting impact, and for employers, it's a meaningful way to enhance your benefits package, without adding cost to your bottom line. expand Learn More About Offering This Benefit When Grief knocks on someone's door, it matters who's standing with them on the front steps. What would it mean for your workplace culture to offer real, tangible support during those moments? Learn how your organization can offer the Dignity Memorial Funeral Benefit Program to your team. Serving families is our passion, our commitment and our expertise. Whether you're planning a funeral or cremation service for a loved one, or making your own arrangements in advance, meaningful life celebrations begin with Dignity Memorial's compassionate funeral and event planners. For Dignity Memorial providers, there is no greater honor than helping to remember a life lived. We are dedicated, local professionals committed to getting every detail right, every time. We do this by listening, caring and guiding each and every family who walks through our doors. It's why we've become a trusted part of the communities we serve and why families consistently give us 5-star ratings for exceptional care. [1] Where available by law. 10% savings is not available in all states nor does it apply to cash-advance items. Benefit only offered in states with Dignity affiliated cemeteries. On already discounted Dignity Memorial plans, consumer is entitled to the greater of the two discounts. [2] Certain restrictions apply.
Time Business News
3 hours ago
- Time Business News
Ant Group (Alibaba's Fintech Arm) Launches $HKDA, the First Regulated Stablecoin Under Hong Kong's New Crypto Law
Hong Kong — August 1, 2025 — Ant Group, the fintech powerhouse behind Alipay and the financial affiliate of Alibaba Group, has just made history with the launch of $HKDA — the first stablecoin officially licensed under Hong Kong's new Stablecoins Ordinance, effective today. This marks a bold step into the world of regulated Web3 finance by one of China's most influential tech empires. Backed 1:1 by the Hong Kong Dollar, $HKDA is designed to offer the safety of traditional finance with the speed and programmability of blockchain. Issued under strict supervision by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), $HKDA is: Fully collateralized by HKD-denominated liquid assets Audited and transparent with public reserve reporting Compliant with a government-grade regulatory framework Ready for integration into cross-border payments, DeFi, and digital commerce '$HKDA represents a new era for digital money in Asia,' said a representative from Ant Digital Technologies, the blockchain arm of Ant Group. 'It combines the credibility of Hong Kong regulation with the global reach of Ant's financial network.' The launch coincides with the full enactment of Hong Kong's Stablecoins Ordinance, a world-leading regulatory framework for fiat-backed stablecoins. It establishes clear licensing rules, mandatory reserve backing, and disclosure standards aimed at ending the era of opaque offshore stablecoins. Ant Group is the first major institution to be granted approval under this new regime — a significant vote of confidence in Hong Kong's role as a trusted crypto-finance hub. Often referred to as Alibaba's mother company in financial services, Ant Group controls the infrastructure behind Alipay, used by over 1 billion users worldwide. With $HKDA, it's now expanding its reach from digital payments into regulated digital assets — making it one of the first tech giants to go fully compliant in the stablecoin space. Insiders suggest that $HKDA may be embedded into: Alipay's payment network Cross-border trade platforms Institutional DeFi tools Tokenized finance infrastructure in Southeast Asia Industry analysts view the launch of $HKDA as a bullish validation of stablecoins with real regulatory backing. Compared to offshore options like USDT or USDC, $HKDA benefits from local compliance, government oversight, and the backing of one of China's most powerful tech-finance alliances. 'This is the blueprint for how stablecoins should work,' noted a Hong Kong-based Web3 venture capitalist. 'It's only a matter of time before regional exchanges, banks, and payment platforms adopt $HKDA as a standard.' With $HKDA live and more applicants lining up for licenses under Hong Kong's Stablecoins Ordinance, the city is rapidly positioning itself as the global capital of compliant crypto. Ant Group's early entry not only demonstrates confidence in the new rules — it lays the foundation for Asia's regulated financial internet. Ant Group is the financial technology affiliate of Alibaba Group, best known for operating Alipay, one of the world's largest mobile payment platforms. With a mission to make finance more inclusive and transparent, Ant Group leads in innovations across blockchain, AI, and digital infrastructure. The launch of $HKDA marks its entry into regulated stablecoins and compliant Web3 finance. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Bloomberg
4 hours ago
- Bloomberg
Korea Expects $350 Billion US Fund to Be Less Than 5% Equity
South Korea's presidential policy chief said the country's $350 billion investment pledge as part of the US trade deal is largely structured as loan guarantees rather than direct capital injections, seeking to ease domestic concerns over the scale and risks of the agreement. In a televised interview on Sunday, Senior Presidential Policy Director Kim Yong-beom said Seoul's actual equity commitment would remain below 5%, emphasizing the initiative is designed to support commercially viable, pre-vetted US-based projects and not intended to provide unconditional financial support.
