Taunton-based Summerfield Homes has completed construction on all 320 new homes on its flagship development at Killams Park in Somerset where it has invested an additional £3.6m in the local community.
The end of construction comes after a decade of work across three phases, creating a vibrant community in a range of accommodation as well as extensive green space, meadows, orchards and wildlife corridors.
Latest additions to the development include more children’s play equipment and the Killams Park Art and Nature Trail. Each piece of the Art Trail was meticulously designed to represent the wetland, woodland, farmland, and wildlife of the historical location and is approximately a 2.5K walk around Killams Park.
As part of the development, Summerfield has delivered 86 affordable and discounted homes. Sixty of these were made available through housing association partners for shared ownership and social or affordable rent. A further 26 were sold through Summerfield’s own MyHome scheme at 30% below market value, helping eligible local buyers achieve home ownership without paying rent on the discounted share.
Summerfield worked closely with Somerset Council to fulfil the S106 planning commitments attached to consent for the development. The £3.66m investment included £2.25m towards education, £414,112 for footpaths and cycle routes, £501,550 for community halls and facilities, £459,732 for green spaces and parks and £36,914 for public art and the nature trail.
The wider 22-hectare development includes around eight hectares of open space, with more than 1,000 new trees, wildflower meadows and grass areas, an orchard, children’s play areas and an enhanced wildlife corridor along the Blackbrook stream. New and improved walking and cycling routes connect residents with Taunton and the surrounding countryside.
All the homes are built with energy savings and a greener future in mind. Key features include double-glazing, insulation on doors, low-energy lighting, counterflow heat exchangers, EV charging points, gardens and bee and bat boxes.
at Summerfield’s completed Killams Park development in Taunton. Credit: Summerfield.
James Holyday, Group Managing Director of Summerfield, said: “Completing construction at Killams Park is a significant milestone for Summerfield and for everyone who has helped bring this major development to life over the past decade.
“Working alongside Somerset Council, Abri Homes, Sovereign, Magna Housing and other partners, we have created a varied and welcoming neighbourhood; investing in affordable housing, education, community facilities, green space and sustainable travel that will benefit the area for generations. “We are extremely proud of what has been achieved and grateful to our residents, partners, consultants, contractors and the local community for their support throughout the development”.
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