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Community News

Gravity – Look Ahead Spring 2023

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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.

Bridgwater & Taunton College built Bat House delivered to Gravity

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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

Gravity supplier ‘Stantec’ introduces Woolavington students to STEM opportunities

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In December Gravity supplier, Stantec, visited Woolavington Village Primary School to challenge Years 3-6 pupils with its Gravity Green Bridge Lego STEM Activity.

The STEM activity introduced engineering to the Woolavington pupils, by using Lego to familiarise pupils to the construction of the ‘Green Bridge’ over Enterprise Way near Puriton and Woolavington. As well as introducing engineering as a career, the activity aimed to help build soft skills such as communication, creativity and teamwork.

During the 50-minute activity, Stantec introduced pupils to the bridge-building challenge using an interactive presentation giving them an insight into civil engineering and the Gravity ‘Green Bridge’. The pupils were split into smaller teams of 4-5. The session was split into  the Construction, Testing and Reflection stages.

The Woolavington students enthusiastically built their Green Bridges to span a road on their team mats. Using their problem-solving and teamwork skills, many exciting and creative bridge designs were constructed. Once the bridges were constructed, each team tested their bridge strength with a variety of weights and with a Hot Wheels truck which had to pass freely beneath the bridge.

The activity concluded with a short recap asking pupils what they had learned from the activity. Each of the teams then collected their “Outstanding Engineers” award certificates.

Claire Pearce, Director of Planning & Economic Development at This is Gravity commented “Encouraging young local talent into the world of STEM and its opportunities is critical to delivering long-term local employment opportunities at Gravity. Engagement with our suppliers such as Stantec to deliver these types of sessions in local schools is just part of Gravity’s wider approach to creating genuine social value.“

Knowle Hill Briefing

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Introduction

The purpose of this briefing note is to provide an update on the progress of the Knowle Hill re-development by This is Gravity Ltd, for a high quality, low impact housing scheme of six dwellings reflecting the highest standards in environmentally led architecture, which will be an asset to the locality.

Background

The Knowle Hill site forms a part of the former estate of the ROF, which has now been designated as an Enterprise Zone and is subject of an adopted Local Development Order (LDO). Knowle Hill is located separately from the main Gravity site and houses the now redundant filtration plant site, which served the former ROF until 2008 when operations ceased.  The filtration plant provided water to the ROF site, fed by a gravity system downhill (northwards), as well as extracting water and holding it from the King Sedgemoor Drain.

The delivery of homes on this site, of a high quality and design, will support the wider objectives of Gravity and the locality to attract high-value jobs and international investment to Sedgemoor and Somerset.

Following positive pre-application discussions with Sedgemoor District Council, initial plans were drawn up and consulted on in September 2020 where a generally positive response was received from the community. No objections or comments were raised by the Parish Council’s or local community which required the scheme to be redesigned. However, at the time an application was not subsequently submitted as This is Gravity Ltd decided to focus on attracting occupiers and achieving the LDO to enable inward investment into the area and high quality and high skilled jobs. Following adoption of the LDO on 22 February 2022, the Knowle Hill scheme has progressed again.

The scheme review and refinement has addressed matters raised during the pre-application with Sedgemoor District Council.

Proposals

The vision for the site is to create a small and sensitive development reflecting the highest standards in environmentally led architecture, reusing a redundant brownfield site which has been vacant for over 14 years. The development will maximise passive design principles, the opportunities to reduce the need for energy and will utilise a range of renewable energy methods.

The new build elements will be provided on the same footprint as the existing buildings, that are proposed to be demolished, to limit impact locally and on the wider landscape. The existing materials across the site will be recycled and reused within the redevelopment of the site. The dwellings are designed to sit low within the landscape, utilising the depressions created by the existing structures. Where the dwellings rise above the existing buildings on site, they resemble clusters of farm buildings, and thus sit naturally within the landscape.

Benefits of the Proposals and how it Responds to Consultation Responses Received

  • The dwellings are designed to sit low within the landscape, utilising the depressions created by the existing structures, incorporating parts of those structures where they can be retained.
  • The design has been informed by the landscape character, the long-range views and the microclimate.
  • The dwellings have been sensitively designed using patterns of built form found within the landscape, for example neighbouring dwellings and farmstead buildings.
  • Landscaping and planting have been designed to reduce views into the site from the wider landscape and to increase biodiversity.
  • There will be a 51.82% biodiversity net gain across the site, which is a significant increase.
  • Native trees and plants will be used across the site and a wildflower meadow will be provided for communal use.
  • Brown living roofs are to be used to soften the development further and further enhance the natural elements of the site. It will be left to naturally self-seed with plants via the wind and wildlife.
  • The dwellings combine passive design principles with on-site renewable energy generation to reduce its climate footprint.
  • The development integrates to the existing nearby settlements through the bridle way and improved site access.  A permissive path for the bridleway will be provided running alongside the existing access point.
An application has been submitted to SDC as the Local Planning Authority and formal consultation will follow in the near future.

Gravity – Look Ahead Summer 2022

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Since securing the adoption of the Local Development Order, the team have been continuing to engage with potential occupiers and emphasise the site’s‘ ready state’ for accelerated delivery.

The archaeological investigations have been completed and there is a robust approach to ecological management through the appropriate licencing.

The landscaping of the link road, called Enterprise Way, will take place in Autumn 2022 (the next planting season).

In parallel to this, work is ongoing to set up the systems, processes and delivery team to enable implementation with the Councils.

Early Works comprising site clearance, cut & fill excavation and stockpiling of imported piling mat material and piling mat material crushed on-site, has commenced with the appointment of Kelston Sparkes as Principle Contractor, Ashfield Solutions as Principle Designer and Environmental Clerk of Works, Ecology Solutions as Ecological Clerk of Works, Turner & Townsend as Project Manager and QS, Stantec as Civil Engineer and Cunningham Safety Consultants to provide independent Safety, Health and Environmental Audit Services.
The team is working under the remediation consent, recently modified and approved, to progress the Works and other associated onsite activities, over the summer months.

Onsite Activities

Importing recycled stone
Kelston Sparkes is importing repurposed construction-ready stone from the adjacent National Grid “T Pylon” Construction sites and stockpiling material, all of which will be used in a piling mat as part of the early works programme. Haulage routes will utilise the new Link Road as well as the secondary access to the East of the site, to avoid unnecessary impacts on local communities.


Repurposing existing concrete slab
Kelston Sparks will also be breaking up existing concrete slabs on-site and crushing concrete for reuse in piling mat.

The best use of material between two adjacent major projects and recycling of material on the site is part of a very significant Gravity initiative to Recover, Recycle, Repurpose and Reuse (4R’s) material and significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the Gravity Development. These recycled materials will enable fast-tracked delivery solutions to potential large-scale occupiers.

What to expect

• Hosting of VIP visitors
• Increased levels of activity on site
• Increased HGV deliveries to site vehicles will be using the purpose-built access road ‘Enterprise Way’ to reduce disruption to local communities

Contact us:

• In event of queries please contact Gravity directly at info@thisisgravity.co.uk
• To view our planning documentation please click here.

Delivery Group meeting – July 2021

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Partners discuss Bridgwater’s role in attracting Gravity investors

The positive impact of Gravity on projects to regenerate areas of Bridgwater and improve local transport infrastructure were among the key topics discussed at the project’s latest Delivery Group meeting on 15 July.

The group, which includes local and national partners, has been set up to facilitate the delivery of Gravity as an Enterprise Zone and the UK’s first smart campus and community. The group is meeting monthly as Gravity progresses with fresh plans to create over 4,000 jobs and attract international investment into the UK at the site in Sedgemoor between the villages of Puriton and Woolavington.

Bridgwater’s role in attracting high-value occupiers

Stuart Houlet, Assistant Director of Inward Investment and Growth for Sedgemoor District Council, started the session with a presentation about plans to regenerate areas of Bridgwater, which were given a boost by the town’s recent award of £22m from the government’s Town Fund. Projects to enhance the town include restoration of the historic docks area; the creation of a pedestrianised ‘Celebration Mile’ (stretching from the docks to railway station); a new Town Centre Park; and a 7-screen cinema.

Mike O’Dowd-Jones, Strategic Commissioner for Highways and Transport Services at Somerset County Council, explained how ‘levelling up’ funds could help fund projects to improve stretches of the A38 to improve Bridgwater’s connectivity with the surrounding areas.

The group went on to discuss the importance of these improvements to the local area in attracting investors to Gravity. Claire Pearce, Director of Planning and Economic Development at Gravity, underlined the project’s connection with Bridgwater and Gravity’s role in economic transformation of the locality, and support for a multi-modal transport strategy to link Gravity to the wider area.

Gravity’s community consultation   

With Gravity’s community consultation now concluded, Ben Lowndes, Managing Director (South West) at Social – the project’s engagement consultant – gave an overview of the engagement activities carried out, including five public webinars, two in-person events, and monthly community newsletters.

Finally, Sam Harper, Senior Associate Planner at Stantec, gave updates on Gravity’s transport and environmental strategies.

You can download the slides that were shared at the last Delivery Group meeting.

Gravity hosts community information webinar

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Gravity’s latest community webinar set out how the project to create the UK’s first smart campus will be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver a sustainable, employment-led community, placing Sedgemoor at the very heart of the country’s green economic recovery.

The webinar was an opportunity for people to find out more about the project and ask questions directly of the Gravity team. It covered the same content to compliment Gravity’s in-person drop-in community events held at the 37 Club on 19 and 23 June.

Director of Planning and Economic Development at Gravity, Claire Pearce started the session by explaining how Gravity would act as a catalyst for change and innovation in the region by providing a sustainable platform for national and international investment.

She detailed Gravity’s vision to be a beacon of clean (zero-carbon) growth that delivers local benefits, including 4,000+ new high-quality jobs and new training opportunities driven by a new era of advanced manufacturing facilities. Claire outlined how Gravity would be ‘an exceptional place’ that integrates work, homes, leisure and green space, supported by a sustainable transport system and smart technology.

Frazer Osment, Chair of LDA Design, discussed Gravity’s Design Guide and landscape strategy in more depth. He described a potential range of campus facilities to support the core commercial advanced manufacturing uses, including leisure and sports facilities, nurseries and café/ restaurants geared towards meeting the needs of the campus community as well as community amenities. Frazer underlined how these facilities would help attract high quality occupiers and be brought forward in ways to allow Gravity to bring the greatest social and economic benefits to Sedgemoor while respecting the local environment.

Finally, Jane Hirst, Planning Director at Stantec, talked about how Gravity would be delivered. She said the Gravity team intended to set out their updated proposals for the project in a Local Development Order (LDO), which is a form of planning permission that establishes overall standards and guidelines for a development.

Jane said an LDO would be progressed over the summer and then submitted to Sedgemoor District Council which would then consult communities and other stakeholders before considering it at the end of this year.

Jane also discussed how vital infrastructure, including a link road to connect Gravity to the A39, was being put in place now to bring the project forward as a viable commercial destination that is attractive to international investment.

‘Gravity: community information, which took place on 24 June 2021, was the fifth in a series of virtual public webinars about Gravity to be held throughout 2021 and is available in full as a recording. Each of these events concludes with a question and answer session and is part of an extensive process of engagement and consultation that aims to ensure that what is proposed for Gravity creates benefits for the local area and its communities. 

Members of the public are invited to stay up to date by signing-up for Gravity’s e-newsletter by contacting gravity@social.co.uk or calling 0330 1070 535.

Gravity releases new images of proposed smart campus

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Stunning new images of how the proposed smart campus at Gravity could look if plans to transform the site are approved have been shared with the public today (7 June 2021).

The pictures of a new smart community at Bridgwater, Somerset, are unveiled as Gravity launches a fresh conversation with local people, stakeholders and businesses about its future ambitions to regenerate the former ROF Bridgwater site.

Gravity is progressing with new plans for its smart campus, which will become a focal point for international investment and create more than 4,000 well paid jobs in clean growth sectors.

As neighbours, every household in Puriton and Woolavington has been directly invited to find out more about Gravity’s emerging plans and views are welcome from the wider Bridgwater area. People can do so this by visiting its website, signing up to a webinar or attending drop in events at the 37 Club.

“We want to create an exceptional place to drive the UK’s shift towards a zero-carbon economy, which places Sedgemoor at the centre of the national clean growth revolution,” said Gravity’s director of planning and economic development, Claire Pearce.

“We are sharing updated images with the public as part of a big conversation with the community about the rationale behind the refreshed approach to deliver a new era of jobs, the benefits a smart campus would bring in practice and what this would mean for local people.

“We’re looking forward to speaking with people and hearing their views.”

Benefits outlined in the information Gravity is sharing with the public from today include:

  • More than 4,000 new jobs in high value industries – advanced manufacturing, smart technology, robotics, data, energy and other highly skilled sectors.
  • A Business Charter to help local businesses respond to supply chain opportunities.
  • Improved bus services, walking and cycling connections and potential new passenger rail and freight links to benefit Puriton, Woolavington and the wider area.
  • New leisure and open spaces to support health and wellbeing.
  • Continued work with local schools and education providers to build resilience, create training opportunities and inspire new careers.
  • New and improved infrastructure for transport, energy digital connectivity and utilities.

These events in June will be followed by further, ongoing, engagement on Gravity’s plans later this year. People can register for updates by signing up to Gravity’s newsletter.

Councillor Gill Slocombe, Deputy Leader of Sedgemoor District Council and the portfolio-holder for Inward Investment and Growth, added: “Sedgemoor is not alone in facing significant challenges.

“We still do not know the full impacts from the pandemic and, at the same time, we’re facing climate emergencies that we must respond to now. Gravity can help the area respond to these challenges to build back better and greener.”

How people can get involved

Local residents, businesses and stakeholders can find out more about the vision for Gravity and provide their feedback by:

“I hope as many people as possible take the opportunity to find out more and speak with us over the coming weeks,” said Claire Pearce.

“Their feedback will play an important role in shaping our future plans to bring in investments, create jobs and provide learning opportunities that the UK and the South West needs.”

Delivery Group Meeting – May 2021

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Partners discuss Gravity’s plans to deliver a smart campus and community

Gravity’s aim to deliver a smart campus and community that integrates workspace, homes, leisure and green space was among the key topics discussed at the project’s latest Delivery Group meeting on 25 May.

The group, which includes local and national partners, has been set up to facilitate the delivery of Gravity as an Enterprise Zone and the UK’s first smart campus and community. The group is meeting monthly as Gravity progresses with fresh plans to create 4,000 jobs and attract international investment into the UK at the site between the villages of Puriton and Woolavington.

Creating pathways for local people to access opportunities

The meeting was kicked off with a presentation by Matt Tudor, Director of Commercial Development, Strategy & Partnership at Bridgwater and Taunton College (BTC). Matt explained how BTC is working in partnership with Gravity to create pathways for the local community to access the new opportunities created by Gravity. 

Matt talked about the need to ‘upskill’ adults and prepare post 16-year olds for a digital and greener future, creating a ‘pipeline of talent’ for potential occupiers. BTC’s role in facilitating partnerships between Gravity and other educational organisations, including universities, was also covered.

Delivering an integrated campus to attract high-value occupiers

Focusing on Sedgemoor, Stuart Houlet, Assistant Director of Inward Investment and Growth for Sedgemoor District Council, discussed the potential for Gravity to help transform the local economy by creating high-value, knowledge-based jobs. Stuart said that the smart, integrated campus offer would be key to attracting the high-value occupiers that will create these jobs. He also highlighted the need to create jobs with integrated leisure opportunities and homes, helping to reduce the need to travel.

David Warburton, Land Director at House by Urban Splash, went on to give a presentation about how the housebuilder creates characterful and sustainable neighbourhoods, using innovative designs and low-carbon Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). Urban Splash has recently joined the Delivery Group in an advisory capacity as an industry leader in the built environment with a track record of delivering innovative places.

Frazer Osment, Chair of LDA Design, discussed the role leisure amenities and homes will play in creating a unique place to attract high-value occupiers, which place a premium on their workforce’s health and wellbeing.  

Emerging proposals for Gravity  

Sam Harper, Senior Associate Planner at Stantec, gave updates on Gravity’s emerging transport, environment and utilities strategies as the team prepares the Local Delivery Order (LDO) proposal for Sedgemoor District Council’s consideration.

Other matters discussed at the session included parameter plans and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, as well as an updated description of the project (from a planning point of view) and proposed land uses.

Events: have your say about Gravity

A community webinar was held on the topic of creating a smart community on 26 May. The fourth in a series of webinars to explain Gravity’s ambitions to deliver community benefits and drive the UK’s economy towards a zero-carbon future.

You can download the slides that were shared at the last Delivery Group meeting.

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