Rob Stevens 
37 club – 8th August
Gravity and our appointed contractors, Alun Griffiths, hosted a local drop-in session. We were thrilled with the reception we received. Our representative on the ground, Paul Lowndes was answering queries about the access road.
There will be regular drop in sessions as the road progresses, so please watch this space.
37 club – 16th October
Gravity and our appointed contractors, Alun Griffiths are hosting an informative drop-in session on the latest developments of the Link Road and on hand to answer and questions.
16th October – 3pm and 7pm
Please join us – you do not need to register in advance.
17th September 2019 – Gravity attended the inaugural Festival of Sustainable Business hosted by the Future Economy Network.
The Festival Gala Dinner was the Grand Finalé to the Festival of Sustainable Business which celebrated the great work being done across the region by businesses who are progressing on their sustainability journey.
Martin spoke of the positive impact that Gravity will have on the local economy and the driving catalyst for the regions goal to become a hub for Clean Growth.
It was encouraging to meet such a plethora of pan-sector businesses who are making significant inroads towards sustainability, which is becoming an ever more important target, Gravity looks forward to attending similar events.
To remember ROF Bridgwater, Sedgemoor District Council (SDC) and the South West Heritage Trust (SWHT) invited the public to share their memories and help to create a community archive.
On November 9 and November 13, the public was invited to the 37Club for tea and cake and to share their stories.
ROF Bridgwater played an essential part in the manufacturing of defence materials during the Second World War. The project aims to gather as much information as possible to create a historical record of what life was like for those who lived and worked in this important local industry.
Sedgemoor District Council and the South West Heritage Trust invited residents to drop-in and share recollections, photographs and memorabilia at events to be held at the 37 Sports and Social Club at Puriton, near Bridgwater.
There were incredible turnouts across the two events, with BBC Somerset interviewing attendees and our Programme Director, Paul Lowndes. The success of theses events will come to fruition with the production of a memory book which will capture over 60 years of history of the site.
The ROF Bridgwater is being transformed by its new owner’s Gravity, into the next generation of innovation campuses with a strong community ethos, continuing the legacy of ROF37.
Bob Croft – Head of Historic Environment, South West Heritage Trust. “We want to hear from anyone who worked at ROF Bridgwater or whose family were connected with this local industry. We would welcome stories, photographs, or other memorabilia that helps to tells the story of this significant site of historical interest.”
Cllr Gill Slocombe, Deputy Leader, Sedgemoor district council“ROF Bridgwater was a hub of activity in its day as both an employer but also as a community. We are excited that the legacy will live on in the shape of Gravity, where ROF Bridgwater once stood. I would like to encourage anyone with an interest in ROF Bridgwater to attend one of our informative events on the place.”
SOMERSET, 12 June, Gravity hosts the official groundbreaking ceremony for the new link road which will unlock the development of the 635-acre Enterprise Zone at the former Royal Ordnance Factory (“ROF”) Bridgwater in Somerset.
Representatives from Gravity, Sedgemoor District Council, Heart of the South West LEP and appointed contractors, Alun Griffiths, turned the first soil to mark the start of the works.
The link road will connect the site directly to the M5 at junction 23. With a total build cost of £10.3 million, it is funded by a £3.94 million grant from the Heart of the South West LEP Growth Deal Fund as well as a £6.39 million contribution from Gravity. Gravity is the first real estate private company to receive Growth Deal funding for transport infrastructure which is expected to generate 4000 jobs on the 635-acre site. Construction of the road will start in July 2019 with completion in Autumn 2020, enabling occupational construction to commence.
Gravity’s vision to deliver the UK’s leading innovation campus underpinned by Clean Growth supports local, regional and national industrial strategies. Gravity will be a natural home to pan-sector businesses who are committed to developing and investing in Clean Growth and collaborating to drive forward innovation. Through the provision of flexible and shared physical facilities, on-site low carbon energy generation, a sought-after working environment, fiscal benefits from its Enterprise Zone status and an ideal environment for public-private and private-private partnerships, Gravity’s ecosystem will continue to evolve over time and shape global futures.
At full capacity, the mixed-use innovation campus anticipates it will be home to 150 high-value businesses across low carbon energy generation, manufacturing, electric vehicles, robotics, AI, data centres, assembly and R&D. It will also provide leisure facilities and amenities accessible to employees and the local community. Facilitated by the M5 growth corridor, Gravity has a large catchment area from Exeter to the Bristol and Bath city regions and is able to leverage a highly qualified regional talent pool in Clean Growth and innovation.
Martin Bellamy, Chairman of Gravity, comments
“We’re delighted to commence construction of the access road as it marks a significant milestone on our journey to deliver the site. As a new business to the area, we are thrilled to have such positive support from the LEP and the Growth Deal fund contribution, as well as the dedicated support and enthusiasm from Sedgemoor District Council. Gravity’s ambition is a wider opportunity for the Bristol – Exeter growth corridor and we look forward to working together to position the South West as a dynamic heart of Clean Growth in the UK.”
Councillor Duncan McGinty, Leader of Sedgemoor District Council, comments
“Today is a critical milestone enabling the realisation of Gravity and its ambition to offer a unique economic asset at the heart of the South West. We’re delighted that the site will once again be an employment hub, providing jobs in the region and helping to transform our economy into a higher value knowledge economy. Sedgemoor’s strong economic track record shows that we can confidently host local and regional business growth. Paired with Gravity’s vision to attract inward investment, this is a major opportunity to take our economic growth to the international level.”
Steve Hindley CBE DL, Chair of the Heart of the South West LEP, comments
“The LEP is delighted to support this project with investment from its Growth Deal with Government that partly funds 60 projects across Somerset, Devon, Plymouth and Torbay to generate jobs and growth in the economy. Gravity is part of the Heart of the South West’s multi-site Enterprise Zones offering economic opportunities in the area’s key sectors – this site targeting Clean Growth. These Enterprise Zones – with other sites at Exeter and East Devon and Oceansgate in Plymouth – enable the local areas to retain a greater share of business rates to re-invest and attract new jobs and growth. We’re looking forward to working with Gravity to generate investment in the region and develop the growing cluster of innovative companies and Clean Growth talent. This will raise the productivity and profile of our area and the wider Great South West region on an international platform.”
Minister for Local Growth, Jake Berry, said
“We’re committed to boosting economic growth across the whole of the UK and building a Britain fit for the future. Improving transport links and infrastructure is key to unlocking local growth. This is why I am delighted that our £3.94 million Local Growth Fund investment towards the new link road will not only help to improve access to leisure facilities for the enjoyment of local residents, but generate thousands of jobs and provide an attractive place for new businesses to Bridgwater and the surrounding local area making it a centre for Clean Growth.”
About Gravity
Gravity will be an immersive, connected, intelligent and sustainable mixed-use campus, home to the World’s most innovative companies. Purpose built, diverse workspaces and resilient technologies will be set against an established natural landscape – supporting a culture of innovation and well-being that blurs the boundaries between work and play. Gravity will be designed to shape connections between people and the places they work for a cleaner, sustainable future.
About Heart of the South West LEP
Local Enterprise Partnerships are playing a vital role in driving forward economic growth across the country, helping to build a country that works for everyone. That’s why by 2021 Government will have invested over £12bn through the Local Growth Fund, allowing LEPs to use their local knowledge to get all areas of the country firing on all cylinders. The Heart of the South West LEP’s total Growth Deal is worth £598m; including £239m from Government and £351m match funding. Over the lifetime of the Growth Deal: 2015 – 2021; HotSW LEP estimates the investment will create up to 26,930 new jobs and 18,242 new homes.
Heart of the South West’s portfolio of Enterprise Zones across three strategic sites offer discounted business rates and investment opportunities in key HotSW sectors: Marine at Oceansgate in Plymouth; Innovation and Clean Growth at Gravity in Somerset and Big Data and Environmental Futures at the Exeter and East Devon Enterprise Zone. For more information visit: www.heartofswlep.co.uk/doing-business-in-our-area/enterprise-zones/
About Salamanca Group
Salamanca Group is the founder and majority shareholder of Gravity. The Group is a privately-held Merchant Banking business, home to experts in global investment and advisory, with a focus on real estate. Salamanca Group’s real estate team has operated across the globe, purchasing land, developing sites and buying businesses related to the sector. The Group’s focus is on large projects in the UK having divested many of its overseas assets. The Group works with clients to enable their business, protect their assets and grow their capital.
The past few months have been busy – culminating in the unlocking of the 635-acre development at Gravity with a groundbreaking ceremony for the link road. Gravity has taken several steps forward over the last quarter to lead up to this ceremonious day. Firstly, the grant of the Compulsory Purchase Order for the land required for the new link road, and secondly, the signing of the Growth Deal Funding agreement with the Heart of the South West LEP. This month, Gravity also appointed the contractor to start work on the £10.3m road build.
Gravity has also been actively playing a vocal role regionally speaking at the Somerset Economic Update to highlight the development’s positive economic impact on the local and wider Bristol-Exeter region.
As a local resident and/or someone interested in the development, we are sending you this newsletter to keep you informed of progress and activities on site. We aim to establish a welcoming and engaging dialogue with communities and hope that our investment plans will be inclusive and create opportunities for local businesses and people.
Above groundbreaking photo from left to right: Paul Lowndes (Programme Director, Gravity), Eifion Jones (Head of Strategy & Operations, Heart of the South West LEP), Simon Dunn (Operations Director, Alun Griffiths), Peter Johnson, Martin Bellamy (Chairman, Gravity), Lord David Triesman (Director, Gravity), Duncan McGinty (Cllr, Leader of Sedgemoor District Council), Hugh Frost (Director, Gravity), Tom Curtis (Chief Executive & Director, Gravity)
Project & Construction Update
Following the decision by a Government Inspector to grant Sedgemoor District Council a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for the land required to build a new road onto Gravity, construction of the road will start in earnest in early July.
Gravity has appointed Alun Griffiths as the contractor to build the link road. Completion is anticipated for Autumn 2020, enabling occupational construction to commence. Once access to the site has been established, Gravity will be able to start welcoming future occupiers on site. It is anticipated that the development will bring thousands of higher value jobs to Sedgemoor. Identified as a strategic location for growth in the district, the site is supported both nationally, as a designated Enterprise Zone, and locally, having been awarded £3.94m Growth Deal funding for the link road from the Heart of the South West LEP. The remainder of the £10.3m total build cost for the road is being contributed by Gravity.
Remediation works are ongoing and are forecast to complete on time at the end of 2019.
Groundbreaking for the new link road
11th June 2019 marked the unlocking of Gravity’s future as the Gravity team hosted representatives from Sedgemoor District Council, Heart of the South West LEP, Somerset County Council, Puriton and Woolavington Parish Councils, as well as business partners at a groundbreaking ceremony for the link road.
Martin Bellamy, Chairman of Gravity, announced to guests “We’re delighted to commence construction of the link road as it marks a significant milestone on our journey to deliver the site. As a new business to the area, we are thrilled to have such positive support from the LEP and the Growth Deal fund contribution, as well as the dedicated enthusiasm from Sedgemoor District Council. Gravity’s ambition is a wider opportunity for the Bristol – Exeter growth corridor and we look forward to working together to position the South West as a dynamic heart of Clean Growth in the UK.”
Councillor McGinty, Leader of Sedgemoor District Council, told Gravity and its guests that he was certain the site would attract international companies, further raising the profile of the District and helping transform it into a higher value economy and creating thousands of job opportunities. “We are especially delighted to see this important industrial site between the villages of Puriton and Woolavington being brought back into use and we will work closely with Gravity and those villages to support them as sustainable communities.”
The Heart of the South West LEP commented “We’re looking forward to working with Gravity to generate investment in the region and develop the growing cluster of innovative companies and Clean Growth talent. This will raise the productivity and profile of our area and the wider Great South West region on an international platform”.
Minister for Local Growth, Jake Berry, said“Improving transport links and infrastructure is key to unlocking local growth. This is why I am delighted that our £3.94 million Local Growth Fund investment towards the new link road will not only help to improve access to leisure facilities for the enjoyment of local residents, but generate thousands of jobs and provide an attractive place for new businesses to Bridgwater and the surrounding local area making it a centre for Clean Growth.”
Somerset Economic Update
Gravity’s Chairman was invited to speak at the Somerset Chamber of Commerce’s annual Somerset Economic Update event in May where nearly 100 business leaders were given an insight into the state of the Somerset economy. Martin Bellamy, Chairman of Gravity spoke alongside representatives from EDF, Bank of England and British Chamber of Commerce. Whilst the main focus from other speakers concentrated on the uncertainty caused by a lack of clarity over Brexit, both Gravity and EDF highlighted the positive impact of the businesses on the local and wider region. Of note, the Chairman of the Somerset Chamber of Commerce commented “The South West has the lowest unemployment levels since 1975 and high employment means continued consumer spending will support the economy. We also have one of the largest construction projects in Europe on our doorstep at Hinkley Point C and a huge investment in the pipeline at the Gravity site near Bridgwater”.
Local Community Information
More information will be available on the 18-month road construction programme and the associated travel management and other disruption that villagers may experience shortly. This information will be communicated by Paul Lowndes, Gravity Programme Director and the contractor’s community liaison officer who will meet regularly with the community at The 37 Club. In addition, residents will be able to access information boards at The 37 Club and notices via Puriton and Woolavington Village Halls.
Under the Section 106 Agreement, Gravity will complete the Puriton and Woolavington village enhancement schemes no later than 12 months after the completion of the Link Road or within 6 months of commencement of the Village Enhancement Schemes if earlier. Given the original plans had been prepared some time ago, new surveys were conducted earlier in the year and new village enhancement plans are in the process of being designed. All members of the community will have access to the design and consultation process.
Since Gravity’s soft launch at the end of November last year, we’ve focused on moving the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) process along to secure the rights to acquire land, implement the new link road, and ensure development on site starts in a timely manner. This is critical in order to realise the wider public benefits of the scheme.
In line with our vision to deliver a sustainable, intelligent, connected and immersive mixed-use campus, that will be home to the world’s most innovative companies, Gravity is sponsoring the Innovative Business Award at the Sedgemoor Business Awards. We are looking forward to presenting this award later this month. In addition, we welcomed the news of Somerset County Council committing to address the climate change emergency consolidating our clean growth mission to wider regional goals.
As a local resident and/or someone interested in the development, we are sending you this newsletter to keep you informed of progress and activities on site. We aim to establish a welcoming and engaging dialogue with communities and hope that our investment plans will be inclusive and create opportunities for local businesses and people.
Project & Construction Update
The CPO process for land required for the access road is well underway. Having commenced the process on the 2nd October 2018, we expect the Secretary of State to confirm the CPO by Summer 2019 to allow construction of the link road to commence. Given this timing, Gravity has worked hard to prepare for this and has recently completed the removal of hedgerows on the land identified for the link road in advance of the bird nesting season.
Gravity has also short-listed four contractors to tender for the link road build. It is anticipated that the link road will be complete by Autumn 2020 with landscaping complete by the end of 2020. This will allow the site to officially launch from Autumn 2020.
The new road will be partially funded by a £3.94m grant from the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and we are delighted to be working with the LEP on this exciting project.
We will keep communities informed of progress and traffic management prior to the start of construction via the Woolavington and Puriton Parish Councils.
Remediation works are ongoing and are forecast to complete on time at the end of 2019.
Sponsoring the Innovative Business Award
We are delighted to sponsor the Innovative Business Award at this year’s Sedgemoor Business Excellence Awards. As a business, we recognise the importance of being innovative in a complex world. It is critical to embrace the digital era and new technologies whilst catering for changing demands from the workforce. Innovation is core to driving individual business growth and performance and supports the growth of the UK economy. We look forward to presenting the award and hearing about the exciting achievements within Sedgemoor from all companies partaking in the awards.
Our Clean Growth foundation
We welcomed last month’s news of Somerset County Council’s commitment to address the climate change emergency. The site’s Clean Growth foundation is an underlying part of Gravity’s vision focused on supporting the future economic growth of the UK in an environmentally sustainable way. As such Gravity’s occupier base will consist of those from low carbon manufacturing, electric vehicles, robotics and AI, energy generation, R&D and associated activities such as data centres and assembly and distribution. A pan-sector cluster will encourage business to collaboratively disrupt, challenge, inspire and innovate for a more sustainable future. Gravity looks forward to being able to support and collaborate with the wider region on such an important national and global challenge.
Community Heritage Project
Gravity plans to work with Somerset Heritage Trust and Sedgemoor District Council to develop a community project to capture the industrial heritage of the site and its former use. As we continue our preparations for the future uses of the site, it is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the personal stories and memories of the Royal Ordnance Factory. As part of this project, we will organise a calendar of events in the 37 Club to meet residents to hear about their family histories and capture their stories on film. We will also be seeking old photographs and artefacts from the factory to help bring those stories to life.
In November last year, Salamanca Group acquired the former ROF Bridgwater in Puriton. A year on, remediation works are well underway, and we have appointed economic experts, master planners, and property branding experts to define our vision, which was announced at the Sedgemoor Business Conference last month. We continue to develop a positive working relationship with Sedgemoor District Council to deliver the optimal site to attract inward investment and deliver benefits to the local community.
As a local resident and/or someone interested in the development, we are sending you this newsletter to keep you informed of progress and activities on site. We aim to establish a welcoming and engaging dialogue with communities and hope that our investment plans will be inclusive and create opportunities for local businesses and people.
Project Update
A Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) is required to enable the land acquisition for the construction of a new link road that will facilitate the redevelopment and improvement of the former Royal Ordnance Factory site. The link road will run from a new roundabout on the A39, around the south of Puriton village to a new roundabout on Woolavington Road, and then north to a third roundabout at the site entrance, avoiding the need for traffic to access the development site through Puriton or Woolavington. Whilst negotiations to acquire the land needed for the link road have been ongoing since 2009 it has not been possible to reach agreement with all of the necessary landowners. As a result, Sedgemoor District Council implemented a CPO to acquire the remaining interests and this process is now underway. The CPO notice was delivered on the 2nd October 2018 with an objection deadline of 6th November 2018. We are aiming for a decision from the Planning Inspectorate by the Summer 2019. This will enable the construction of the link road to commence later in 2019. It is anticipated the link road will take 18 months to build inclusive of landscaping works.
Detailed design and technical work for the road is nearing completion, and early contractor involvement has already started with potential contractors who will be appointed to build the road.
We will keep communities informed of progress and traffic management updates three months prior to the start of construction via the Woolavington and Puriton Parish Councils. In addition, we will appoint a Community Relations Officer to engage with communities, provide regular updates and answer questions as the project evolves.
Construction Update
We have appointed ecologists, environmental engineers, landscape architects, civil engineers and quantity surveyors to design and document the construction works.
On-site physical works are progressing with former owners, BAE Systems, and remediation works are forecast to complete on time at the end of 2019. Materials from the site are being recycled for use in ground stabilisation and for use in landscape bunds.
In early Spring 2019, we will establish an on-site Plant Nursery to propagate native species for planting on the site, the link road landscape bund and in the community.
Announcement of Vision
Martin Bellamy, CEO of Salamanca Group, announced at the recent Sedgemoor Business Conference the vision to transform the 635-acre site into an innovation campus – a new era of enterprise zone. With guidance from a team of economic analysts and master planning experts, Salamanca Group will deliver and operate an innovation campus responding to the shifting global trends in consumption, automation and digitalisation. The site, newly named Gravity, will be an immersive, connected, intelligent and sustainable environment that will attract some of the world’s most innovative businesses focussed on clean growth.
Strategically located in the South West with direct access to an intermodal mix of international transport connections of road, rail, air and deep-sea port, it is envisaged the mixed-use facility will attract a range of tenants with one core objective – a cleaner global future. In line with this, the first tenant, a low-carbon energy generation facility is anticipated to be on-site from summer 2020. Other high value businesses are expected to be manufacturing, advanced manufacturing, robotics and artificial intelligence, electric vehicle, assembly and distribution space, research and development and office. The site’s flexibility and future-proofing is key, and we will provide businesses with an adaptive layout connected by a multi-functional landscape and infrastructure framework suited for demands of modern businesses and their employees.
The combination of like-minded businesses enables an environment of innovation in clean growth. From inventors in incubation space to experts in advanced manufacturing, the site will offer a prime opportunity to deliver research and development linkages and innovation as a result of knowledge sharing and cross pollination. Gravity will be an agile place that is able to support tomorrow’s workforce who are constantly re-thinking, re-imaging and re-defining the future.
Purpose built, diverse workspaces and resilient technologies will be set against an established natural landscape – supporting a culture of innovation and well-being that blurs the boundaries between work and play. A range of leisure facilities, amenities and public space will be available for the local community to use.
LONDON, 30th NOVEMBER, Salamanca Group, the London-based Merchant Banking business, announces its vision to transform a 635-acre site in Somerset into an innovation campus – a new era of enterprise zone. With guidance from a team of economic analysts and master planning experts, Salamanca Group, which has experience of acquiring, developing and maintaining award-winning commercial sites, will deliver and operate an innovation campus responding to the shifting global trends in consumption, automation and digitalisation. The site, newly named Gravity, will be an immersive, connected, intelligent and sustainable environment that will attract some of the world’s most innovative businesses.
Clean growth is at the epicentre of the vision, grounding the strategy. Gravity will be a home to a variety of businesses who provide solutions to sustainable economic growth in a form of components, platforms, goods or services. In addition, the physical site infrastructure will be developed to enable all businesses to become part of an ecosystem that supports environmentally sustainable economic growth.
Strategically located in the South West with direct access to an intermodal mix of international transport connections of road, rail, air and deep-sea port, it is envisaged the mixed-use facility will attract a range of tenants with one core objective – a cleaner global future. In line with this, the first tenant, a low-carbon energy generation facility is anticipated to be on-site from summer 2020. Other high value businesses are expected to be manufacturing, advanced manufacturing, robotics and artificial intelligence, electric vehicle, assembly and distribution space, R&D and office. Due to the site’s size, these businesses will be able to benefit from a flexible plot structure helping them to transform their business and future-proof.
The combination of like-minded businesses enables an environment of innovation. From inventors in incubation space to experts in advanced manufacturing, the site will offer a prime opportunity to deliver R&D linkages and innovation as a result of knowledge sharing and cross pollination. The scale of the site allows for an ever-evolving ecosystem centred around fluid growth. Gravity will be an agile place that is able to support tomorrow’s workforce who are constantly re-thinking, re-imaging and re-defining the future.
Responding to a cultural trend towards future workplaces with a focus on employee well-being, the site will be developed to provide a conscious, healthy environment for a workforce where businesses gain from the social, environmental and economic benefits. Importantly, exceptional place qualities will be highlighted by the blurring of boundaries between work and play, for both those who will work there and those who wish to enjoy it. A range of leisure facilities, amenities and all public space will be available for the local community to use.
Inspired by the force of attraction, the Gravity brand will be designed to be ever-evolving that grows through time, changing and reflecting its natural environment and human activity on-site.
Martin Bellamy, CEO of Salamanca Group, comments,
“Today’s announcement, launching the vision at the Sedgemoor Business Conference, is an important step. We’re committed to delivering creativity, innovation and welcoming a pioneering spirit from our future partners to drive inward investment to this region.” “The real estate market is traditionally slow in responding to behavioural trends and disruptive technologies. By looking at examples internationally, in particular from the USA and the Netherlands, our vision has been carefully considered to respond to these trends. The site’s flexibility is key, and we will provide businesses with an adaptive structure connected by a multi-functional landscape and infrastructure framework suited for demands of modern businesses and their employees.”
“Geared for a cleaner future powered by people and our innovation capabilities, Gravity will welcome some of the world’s most innovative companies to the UK. Gravity is the future, naturally. We’re thrilled to be working alongside Sedgemoor District Council who are proactive and dedicated to supporting the delivery of the site.”
Councillor Duncan McGinty, Leader of Sedgemoor District Council comments,
“Gravity is a major opportunity for Sedgemoor that has the capability of transforming the economy, creating high value growth and proving increased opportunities for local people and business. The council welcomes Salamanca Group’s bold vision to attract inward investment and providing a Hinkley Point C legacy. This exciting opportunity will place Sedgemoor at the forefront of sustainable growth in the South West. We are working closely with Salamanca Group to deliver both benefits to the local community as well as providing a welcoming and supportive environment to new investors.”
Steve Hindley, Chairman of Heart of the South West LEP comments,
“The Local Enterprise Partnership is delighted that this prime development site is embarking on a new era of prosperity with the investment from Salamanca Group to develop it into an innovation campus focussed on clean growth.
The site is a strategic business location at one of the Heart of the South West’s multi-site Enterprise Zones, which offer economic opportunities in our key sectors, and enable the local area to retain a greater share of business rates to re-invest and generate further new jobs and growth.
We welcome Salamanca Group to the Heart of the South West and look forward to welcoming the new innovative businesses that they will be marketing to on a global platform.”
On-site physical works are progressing with former owners, BAE Systems, and remediation works are forecast to complete on time at the end of 2019.
Illustrative Image 1. An innovation campus where amenities and leisure facilities bring people together in and outside working hours.
Illustrative Image 2. A conscious environment focused on well-being that brings nature, technology, business and people together.
About Salamanca Group
Salamanca Group is the founder and majority shareholder of Gravity. The Group is a privately-held Merchant Banking business, home to experts in global investment and advisory, with a focus on real estate. Salamanca Group’s real estate team has operated across the globe, purchasing land, developing sites and buying businesses related to the sector. The Group’s focus is on large projects in the UK having divested many of its overseas assets. The Group works with clients to enable their business, protect their assets and grow their capital.
About Gravity
Gravity will be an immersive, connected, intelligent and sustainable mixed-use campus, home to the World’s most innovative companies. Purpose built, diverse workspaces and resilient technologies will be set against an established natural landscape – supporting a culture of innovation and well-being that blurs the boundaries between work and play. Gravity will be designed to shape connections between people and the places they work for a cleaner, sustainable future.
For all media enquiries please contact Dominique Allnutt on d.allnutt@salamanca-group.com.
LONDON, 17th NOVEMBER, Salamanca Group, the London-based Merchant Banking business, has completed the acquisition of the 635-acre site currently known as Huntspill Energy Park in Somerset. Located just off junction 23 (Puriton) of the M5, and approximately 15 miles east of the Hinkley Point C development, the size and location of the site makes it one of the most strategically important land parcels in the UK today.
Forming part of the multi-location Heart of the South West Enterprise Zone, the site will be developed over the coming years with a focus on energy related uses. At its core, a low-carbon, on-site energy generation facility will provide reliable energy to its tenants, which are likely to centre on activities such as manufacturing, logistics and other industry and business.
The Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF Bridgwater) was constructed in 1939 for the manufacture of explosives, eventually closing in 2008. The factory was owned and operated by BAE Systems who will retain responsibility for decommissioning and remediating the site, a process which the company has completed safely at many other former ROFs across the UK in the past 25 years.
Once transformed the site will deliver a significant boost to the local economy and employment. It is predicted that once fully operational as SW England’s leading commercial and business centre, the site will create more than 4,400 jobs and will generate in the region of £125m of business rates.
Martin Bellamy, CEO of Salamanca Group, comments,
“The country faces exciting challenges and the commercial world needs to know we are open for business. This transformational project opens the West of England to the very best national and international companies providing key financial and energy benefits. This will be the business hub for the future. As strategic investors, we have and will continue to use our deep relationships with key partners to deliver this project. We will now work closely with the council, local communities and other partners to achieve the optimal future for the site and, by extension, the local economy.”
Councillor Duncan McGinty, Leader of Sedgemoor District Council comments,
“This project is central to our corporate strategy and we are excited about the positive impact the site will have on Sedgemoor and the wider regional economy. We prioritise an employment led approach and the development of this project is of utmost importance to achieving our ambitions. We will be able to inspire our young people, generate new opportunities and retain our well-educated work force, creating a revitalised, higher value and sustainable economy into the future.”
Salamanca Group was represented in the transaction by legal advisor Charles Russell Speechlys; planning consultant Iceni Projects; and environmental consultant Ashfield Solutions.
BAE Systems was represented in the transaction by property consultancy Alder King.
About Salamanca Group
Salamanca Group is the founder and majority shareholder of Gravity. The Group is a privately-held Merchant Banking business, home to experts in global investment advisory, London real estate and private client services. Salamanca Group provides hands-on, strategic and financial advice to corporates and business owners seeking to facilitate growth and crystallise value. The company has also co-invested into multiple assets worldwide including real estate (mixed-use and residential), industrials, energy and natural resources, and luxury marine. The Group works with clients to enable their business, protect their assets and grow their capital.
For all media enquiries please contact Dominique Allnutt on d.allnutt@salamanca-group.com.
Text about the company etc…
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