As we emerge from the Winter months work at the Gravity site will ramp up and the community will see more activity. This is a welcome sign as the site moves into implementation.
There are now two landowners at the Gravity smart campus and works will be coordinated and activity communicated jointly where possible. This is Gravity (TIG) who secured the Local Development Order remain as one landowner. Other occupiers will be announced in due course.
Planned Site Works
The work to recycle concrete from the site and crush it for re-use will continue.
Import of recycled aggregate from the Hinkley C connection project will also resume (weather dependent) towards the end of March.
Import of aggregate to meet occupier needs as required.
TIG contractors will be monitoring the new landscaping on the link road and replacing as necessary.
Tree works on site will take place before bird nesting season to prepare for implementation.
The campus approach to re-use and recycling seeks to reduce traffic movements.
Consultant site visits, ground investigations will also take place.
TIG Archaeology investigations will take place on part of the site outside of the original ROF fence, late March / early April for about 12 weeks.
Other matters
TIG will continue to be represented locally by Claire Pearce as Director of Planning and Economic Development, Paul Lowndes as Programme Director on site, and Rob Stevens providing communications support. We welcome Stuart Houlet to the Gravity family as Head of Planning for TIG.
TIG will continue with its work to replace the leisure facilities currently hosted by the 37 Club.
Submissions to Somerset Council and other regulators on planning and technical matters will continue as appropriate.
Gravity, supported by the South West Heritage Trust and Somerset Film, recently hosted an event to conclude a successful heritage project begun in 2019.
The event was held on 5 December at the 37 Club and was attended by more than 70 people, including local historians, members of the community, and former employees of the Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF37). Together they were able to discuss and celebrate their shared memories of the site.
The South West Heritage Trust described the site’s timeline up to modern times, bringing to life its heritage and the innovation and camaraderie that were at the heart of working life there.
There was a short talk about archival and other material that has been collected as part of the project, including a range of artefacts and memorabilia. Paul Comerford, a former employee, gave an insightful talk based on his book All Roads Lead to ROF. A highlight of the event was the first showing of a short film about ROF37, originally commissioned by Sedgemoor District Council (now Somerset Council).
Gravity’s Director – Planning & Economic Development, Claire Pearce, commented on the event: “We want to celebrate the rich industrial heritage of the site, and community events such as this are very important to so many people. The South West Heritage Trust has helped preserve the stories and the spirit of ROF37 and its key role in fostering industrial innovation. We’re excited that Gravity will be continuing that tradition by hosting a new generation of future-facing industries.”
She added: “Gravity extends its heartfelt thanks to all those who attended for their enthusiasm and their contributions. We’re especially grateful to the South West Heritage Trust and Somerset Film for their invaluable support in making the event such a success.“
Bob Croft, Head of Historic Environment and Estates for the Trust, said: “We were very pleased to work with Gravity and the local community in helping to record some of the stories of ROF37. The material we’ve gathered during the project will be safely preserved as part of the Somerset Archive collections and will be available for future generations to consult”
The curating and cataloguing of the South West Heritage Trust’s archive have not yet finished. The Trust would welcome help from any former Royal Ordnance Factory 37 employee who can contribute their knowledge to the process. If you, or someone you know, may have information or further stories to share, please contact the Trust at somersetarchives@swheritage.org.uk.
Click here to view the archive catalogue for the Royal Ordnance Factory 37.
Gravity will be the UK’s first commercial smart campus and a blueprint for a ‘cleaner’, smarter future. It aims to attract the world’s most innovative companies working in the ‘clean growth’ sectors.
Expected to create up to 7,500 jobs, the 616-acre Enterprise Zone will be designed to shape connections between people and the places they work, supporting a culture of innovation and wellbeing. It will include diverse, flexible workspaces and resilient technologies along with enhanced transport links to, and within, the surrounding area.
About South West Heritage Trust
The South West Heritage Trust is an independent charity committed to protecting and celebrating Somerset and Devon’s rich heritage. As well as the widely-praised Museum of Somerset and the redeveloped Somerset Rural Life Museum, in Glastonbury, the Trust manages state-of-the-art facilities in Taunton and Exeter to care for the extraordinary archive collections of the two counties. The Trust also provides essential advice about the historic environment and manages historic sites. Visit swheritage.org.uk
This is Gravity is proud to support Bridgwater United Football Club (BUFC) with the Gravity brand now displayed pitch side at Fairfax Park.
The Gravity – BUFC partnership is focused primarily on creating community social value through the delivery of the Gravity Sphero STEM initiative which launched in October 2022. The Sphero initiative prioritises the engagement of young people to raise aspirations through the development of robotics and coding skills through the medium of football – in a way that is accessible to all.
Gravity is working closely with BUFC on the implementation of local leisure facilities that would replace elements of the 37 Sports & Social Club and integrate new facilities into the community.
This academic year BUFC has partnered with East and West Huntspill schools to introduce the Sphero After School Clubs. In the recent term, our collaboration with East Huntspill saw the successful roll-out of weekly Sphero sessions, engaging approximately 12 students per session over a six-week period.
Past collaborations include sessions with Woolavington, and the integration of Sphero activities into local Sports Camps, monthly student outreach has consistently reached between 100 and 150 students.
This is Gravity’s Director – Planning & Economic Development, Claire Pearce, commented: “Forging closer local partnerships at a grassroots level are key to delivering the genuine social value that we set out to achieve through our environmental and social governance policy. We are proud of the reach that Bridgwater United Sports & Community Trust has achieved in the year since the STEM Sphero initiative launched. Going forward we expect our connection to Bridgwater United FC to grow and we look forward continuing to work with them”.
Bridgwater United FC Head of Community, Dan Rogers, commented: “The support Gravity have given us on our Sphero project has allowed Bridgwater United to expand and enhance its delivery and become the first English non-league football club to deliver the Sphero programme within its locality.
We have seen rapid uptake in STEM interest amongst the children that are working with, so much so that the young people are showing the coaches’ new ways to use block coding!
We are excited to continue our relationship with the Gravity team and cannot wait to get the ‘ball rolling’ on our plans.”
The Gravity team continues to work across many workstreams to ensure that the site is ready for mobilisation and implementation of a large-scale advanced manufacturing facility. All workstreams listed in our Summer 2023 Look Ahead document are still ongoing.
Our primary update is to notify local communities that in accordance with our planning permission that on on-site works will be taking place on Saturdays 8am-6pm across the month of October, from Saturday the 7th through till Saturday the 28th.
Saturday working (7th, 14th, 21st, 28th)
Due to fluctuating weather conditions throughout the year, Gravity aims to maximise the use of the remaining fair weather.
All on-site activities strictly comply with Condition 2 of the planning permission ref: 42/22/00007. No work is being conducted within 500 meters of any residential property.
Somerset Council is fully informed about the temporary adjustments to the working hours on-site for October.
No HGV deliveries or imports are scheduled during these days. Work will be halted if weather conditions are not favourable.
On-site works
Ongoing processing of onsite materials
Breaking up of concrete in the ground and cutting and filling to achieve plateau levels
Site preparation activities remain ongoing
Site maintenance works comprising site security, road cleaning, grass mowing, fence repairs are continuing as required.
The Gravity team continues to work across multiple workstreams to ensure that the site is ready for mobilisation and implementation of a large-scale advanced manufacturing facility.
Recycling Material
The site team continues to recycle concrete ‘won’ or found on site and this is being crushed to be re-used on the site during construction.
The Kelson Sparks team are working with Gravity to recycle the material from the National Grid Hinkley C connection project temporary haul roads to store on-site for use in construction. This ensures many lorries of aggregate are being taken off the local roads.
Haulage routes utilise Enterprise Way as well as the secondary access to the East of the site, to avoid unnecessary impacts on local communities. In 2023 alone, Enterprise Way has removed over 6,500 HGV journeys from local village roads.
Other on-site activities
Site maintenance works comprising site security, road cleaning, grass mowing, and fence repairs are continuing as required.
Site preparation is ongoing. Approximately half the site has been cleared of bramble and other brash so that ground works can commence.
Ecological management continues on a daily basis to monitor badger activity at the boundaries of the fenced site. Our ecologists translocated the water vole population last spring and Gravity continues activity to ensure that the site rhynes are clear and do not present new habitat opportunities whilst construction is ongoing.
Link Road landscaping
The landscaped area along the link road is under Gravity ownership. The landscaping works are part of the Alun Griffiths Contract and the contractor has an obligation to maintain the landscaping and replace any failed planting for a period of 2 years after completion.
The implementation of new landscaping is often challenging on any scheme and the unpredictable and extreme shifts in the weather have made this more so, therefore the landscaping will be monitored and replaced as required.
Village enhancement scheme – Woolavington cycle & footpath
A timeline for the delivery of the Cycle and footpath linking Puriton with Woolavington will be generated upon the issuance of the formal ‘completion certificate’ for Enterprise Way from Somerset County Council. Click here to view the planning submission for the proposed path.
What to expect
Hosting of visitors to the site.
Increased levels of activity on site.
Increased HGV deliveries to the site, vehicles will be using the purpose-built access road ‘Enterprise Way.
Contact us:
• In event of queries please contact Gravity directly at info@thisisgravity.co.uk • To view our planning documentation please click here.
Gravity is proud to have supported Puriton Parish Council in the funding of a brand new zip wire to complement the new village assault course, located at the Puriton Sports Centre.
The new adventure area opened to the public on Wednesday 16th August at a ceremony attended by Claire Pearce, Gravity’s Director – Planning & Economic Development and Paul Lowndes, Gravity’s Programme director.
The adventure area consists of a durable and sustainably built wooden assault course with a variety of organic and challenging obstacles for local older children to enjoy, accompanied by the Zip wire called ‘Gravity’.
Claire Pearce, reflecting on the assault course opening “The Gravity team is thrilled with the final outcome of this adventure area including the assault course and zip wire. We are immensely proud to contribute the matched funding required to help the sports centre team and parish council deliver these facilities. We would also like to thank our consultants Keystone and Ecology Solutions who provided voluntary services to help make this happen. A great team effort.
This play area is part of our ongoing commitment to creating social value locally, ensuring that our legacy initiative continues to ensure the 37 Club facilities are replaced and embedded in the wider area.”
Simon Langley, Puriton Parish Council “This would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication from the project team who worked tirelessly to make this dream a reality. We also want to thank Bristol-based Touchwood for designing, manufacturing and delivering our vision in a sustainable manner.
We truly hope that everyone enjoys the great outside adventure areas we have installed, this really makes a visit to the Puriton Sports Centre a worthwhile trip. The Parish council are extremely proud of this latest accomplishment to our ever-expanding “places to go, learn and places to play” in our community.”
This is Gravity is proud to share that within two school terms, the Gravity Sphero STEM initiative has reached over 500 children and young people in Bridgwater, delivered through Bridgwater United Community Trust. Weekly sessions are delivered in Woolavington, East Huntspill and the surrounding areas, across term time, afterschool clubs and various holiday camps.
Predominantly, the students reached are aged between 8-12 years old and are taught in class sizes of 10-12. This enables students to work individually and in pairs, providing a blended platform to use their own initiatives as well as team-building skills.
Everyone starts their Gravity Sphero journey in ‘Play mode’ to familiarise themselves with the robots and their abilities to understand basic instructions. Many master the basics quickly and keenly progress onto draw & block coding within ‘Sphero Edu mode’, where elements of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) dovetail.
Recent games include Bull Dog, football matches using tennis balls, practicing weight of passing and shooting and obstacle courses and mazes. Through play, the students are consistently developing key transferrable skills, they are gripped [EC2] and never want it to be packing up time.
Logan from Woolavington Primary school “This is the best club in the world”
Dan Rogers Bridgwater United Sports Trust Operations Managersaid: “The Sphero programme has really developed our delivery giving the young people we work with a chance to learn about technology and coding in a fun, play environment. We are proud to be the first non-league club to use this technology and we can see the difference it is making to the young people we work with on a weekly basis. Sphero club is their favorite part of the week and it’s ours too!”
Gravity Director of Planning & Economic Development Claire Pearce said “The Gravity ambition is to stimulate innovation and test new ideas, therefore I warmly welcome the commitment of the Bridgwater United Sports Trust in partnering with us on the Gravity Sphero initiative. I am really excited to see the positive response from local children and hope it will inspire young people into careers in science, technology, and engineering at Gravity in the future.
Gravity has been pleased to work with Sedgemoor District Council to fund the delivery of a new and improved local play area for Purtion Park, located on Manse Lane. The new playground opened to the public on Friday 17th March. It consists of a bespoke play tower with a slide that can accommodate 24 children aged 2 and up, with an additional 3m x 1m trampoline suitable for all abilities and accommodates a wheelchair.
Aligned with Gravity’s ambition for clean growth and its commitment to environmental and social governance, sustainably sourced materials for the playground were a priority, the dark teal panels and posts were made from 100% post-consumer ocean recycled waste and 100% recycled textiles respectively.
Gravity worked in close partnership with Puriton Parish Council and Sedgemoor District Council to make this community asset a reality. This is part of Gravity’s ongoing commitment to creating social value locally, ensuring that our legacy initiative to replace and enhance children’s play equipment beyond the existing 37 Club.
As a next step on legacy delivery, our consultants have kindly volunteered to help Puriton Parish Council to clear land for the new assault course. With further Gravity funding to match other local resources, the Parish will now be able to commission this new facility for older children.
The Gravity team continues to work across multiple workstreams to ensure that the site is ready for mobilisation and implementation of a large-scale advanced manufacturing facility.
Onsite Activities
Ecological management continues on a daily basis through our ecological clerk of works who monitor wildlife activity at the boundaries of the fenced site and conditions onsite. Gravity continues to ensure that the site rhynes are clear and do not present new habitat opportunities. This is consistent with our licencing requirements and ensures there is no barrier to construction and protects species.
Site maintenance works comprising site-security, road cleaning, grass mowing, fence repairs are continuing as required.
Site preparation is ongoing. Approximately half the site has been cleared of bramble and other brash so that groundwork can commence. Site-sourced concrete and brickwork is being processed for re-use.
Importing of recycled stone from the National Grid T-Pylon sites is scheduled to recommence in late March, this will result in increased HGV deliveries to the site, vehicles will use the purpose-built access road ‘Enterprise Way’ to reduce disruption to local communities.
Link Road Landscaping
Alun Griffiths’s sub-contractor has spent the winter months planting trees and shrubs consisting of a mix of native species to support biodiversity along Enterprise Way.
The landscaping efforts are nearing completion.
Village Enhancement Scheme – Woolavington Cycle & Footpath
A timeline for the delivery of the Cycle & Footpath linking Puriton with Woolavington will be generated upon the issuance of the formal ‘completion certificate’ for Enterprise Way from Somerset County Council.
Click here to view the planning submission for the proposed path.
Community
We continue to work with local organisations to ensure the wider area is maintained to welcome new investors to the area to create new economic opportunities for communities.
Contact us:
• In event of queries please contact Gravity directly at info@thisisgravity.co.uk • To view our planning documentation please click here.
During January Gravity took delivery of a new Bat House which was built in partnership with Bridgwater & Taunton College (BTC) and our Ecology Clerk of Works, Ecology Solutions.
BTC students on Construction programmes at the Taunton campus constructed the Bat House and their Welding students on an ECITB Welding Scholarship manufactured the steel frame to make it transportable and mobile. The guide specification and further expert support was supplied by Ecology Solutions.
Having real projects for students to work on gives them a great sense of achievement and participation in the local community, as well as a chance to test out their newly acquired skills.
The Bat House is designed to provide a safe and secure habitat for the bats and ensures that this important species can continue to thrive in the local ecosystem
