Somerset rail station could boost future housing plans

By Laura Linham 20th Apr 2026

Local News by Laura Linham 20th Apr 2026

Plans for a new railway station near Langport and Somerton could help Somerset deliver thousands of new homes under its Local Plan to 2045.

Building thousands of new homes across Somerset could be easier if a long-discussed railway station is revived, councillors have said.

Somerset Council is preparing its new Local Plan, which will set out where housing, jobs and infrastructure will be delivered across the county up to 2045.

Speaking at a meeting in Taunton on Wednesday, 8 April, Councillor Richard Wilkins suggested that plans for a railway station serving Langport, Somerton and surrounding villages could play a key role.

He said if the Department for Transport revisited the proposals, it "may be more productive for house-building".

The council is due to launch its first round of public consultation on the Local Plan between Thursday, 19 June and Thursday, 24 July. Residents will be asked to comment on the overall vision before specific development sites are proposed.

Planning officers told councillors the potential station remains under consideration, but is at an earlier stage than other schemes.

Thandi Zulu, Somerset Council's major projects planning officer, said the proposal was still "aspirational" compared to projects like the new Wellington railway station, which already has funding in place.

An outline business case for the Langport and Somerton station was submitted to the Department for Transport in February 2022, backed by £50,000 from the former Somerset County Council.

However, the scheme suffered a setback in July 2024 when the government scrapped the Restoring Your Railway fund.

Council officers said it would be for councillors and the public to decide whether the station should be prioritised within the Local Plan, which is due to be adopted in 2029.

The plan comes as Somerset faces significantly increased housing targets. Following the last general election, the government raised local targets as part of a national pledge to build 1.5 million homes, with Somerset's requirement increasing by 41 per cent.

Council leader Bill Revans said delivering around 75,000 new homes across the county over the next 20 years would be a major challenge.

He said many residents would question both the demand for that level of housing and how it could be delivered in a county with environmental constraints including flood zones and protected landscapes.

Further consultation on potential development sites is expected in autumn 2027, followed by another round in spring 2028.

The final Local Plan is due to be submitted for examination in September 2028 ahead of its planned adoption in March 2029.