North Petherton is nearing a new GP surgery to meet growing healthcare needs due to recent housing developments.
A developer wants to build houses on Taunton Road, and this plan includes a new GP surgery to replace the current one. Health groups will deliver the surgery if the plan succeeds.
The developer is working on a formal plan that Somerset Council will review. People can share their thoughts later this year, as the site is on the A38, near other homes.
They initially planned 60 homes but now want 45; this change allows for a bigger medical space. The new center will have lots of room, and sixty parking spots are also planned.
A care home with 66 beds is also in the works, along with a new scout hut and cricket pitch. These will connect to the A38 with paths.
A spokesperson said people want the new surgery and that it is needed for the growing population. The current surgery is too small for everyone now.
In 2020, officials said the surgery needed to grow or move. They added temporary buildings for extra space, with one arriving in 2021 and another in early 2024.
The council says those buildings can stay until 2029, ensuring enough space until the new surgery opens, which they approved in January 2025.
The developer wants to provide the land and will seek basic approval for the surgery plot. If approved, Symphony will build it and also get detailed permission.
The developer is working on other home projects. One is in Creech St. Michael, while they also got approval for homes in Wellington recently.
The plan for North Petherton could be decided by year’s end. An application is expected in a few months.