WORK on a multi-million-pound relief road is set to begin later this year.

The Western Relief Road will link the A38, just off Milton Hill on the outskirts of Monkton Heathfield, with the A3259 near Yallands Hill - on the other side of the village.

Construction has been given the green light after Taunton Deane Borough Council (TDBC) granted outline planning permission for 320 homes to be built on land off Hartnell’s Farm, close to Prockter’s Farm.

The proposals were submitted by Strategic Land Partnerships (SLP), a South West development company, who will be paying £1 million towards the build of the road.

Thousands of new homes have already been built on land surrounding the village with plans for at least another 2,500.

It will see the area transformed from a village to the size of a town like Wellington.

Permission for the 320 homes was originally granted in 2015, but an amended application was submitted last year, to reflect agreements made with planners at TDBC, largely to do with highways considerations.

Tim Baker, development manager for SLP, said: “We’re very pleased to get planning permission. We’ve worked really closely with Persimmon Homes, Redrow, Taunton Deane Borough Council and Somerset County Council and the permission means that construction can now begin on the Western Relief Road, which is an essential piece of infrastructure.

“We are hoping to submit a detailed planning application in six months, and then hope we can start building the development early next year.”

The relief road is one of two aimed at easing traffic problems and follows the £7.2million Eastern Relief Road, which opened in November 2015 to help ease congestion on the Bridgwater Road.

A spokesman for Somerset County Coun- cil said: “The Western Relief Road is being delivered by a consortium of developers in order to enable the progression of the nearby Monkton Heathfield development.

“We are currently working with Persimmon/Redrow to approve the final design with construction due to start later in the year.

“Once complete, the road will provide a link between the A3259 and A38.”

Simon Perks, regional managing director for Persimmon Homes South West, said: “Both Persimmon Homes and Redrow have made substantial contributions to the delivery of both the Eastern and Western Relief Road, without which the highway would not have been provided.”

West Monkton Parish Council said it was pleased permission was granted for the development, but refused to comment further.