Gravity launches design competition for Sedgemoor students

Gravity is teaming up with two educational charities to launch a design competition that aims to encourage local youngsters to get involved with the project to create the UK’s first smart campus and community.

Gravity, which is based on the site of the former Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF) between Puriton and Woolavington, is launching the Gravity Young Persons’ Design Challenge in partnership with Bounce Forward, a charity dedicated to teaching young people resilience as a life skill, and the Ministry of Building Innovation and Education (MOBIE), a charity founded by architect and TV Presenter George Clarke to inspire young people to rethink about the way we design and build places and communities, and offering them a window into a future career in the built environment.

Primary and secondary schools, and colleges across Sedgemoor are being invited to take part in the competition to imagine and design what kind of a place Gravity will be to achieve its vision of creating a zero-carbon community that integrates work, rest and play.  

Claire Pearce, Director of Planning and Economic Development at Gravity, comments: “Gravity is committed to ensuring that this landmark project delivers benefits to the local community, even at this very early stage. We’re excited to be working with Bounce Forward and MOBIE, and engaging with local schools and colleges, to take advantage of the educational opportunities that Gravity is already creating.

“As a project which will create over 4000 jobs, it is important to think about how we can reduce the need to travel to work, what we can include as part of the scheme to help local people access work opportunities, and how to design in integrated homes and leisure opportunities, as part of a new integrated, and sustainable community.

“Through this competition, we’re encouraging young people to think about place making; what do they want from Gravity and places of the future? What kind of workspaces and homes create a happy, healthy and well-connected place to live and work?”

The challenge

Students will be challenged to design a zero-carbon home in a new employment led community that reflects Gravity’s vision of being clean and inclusive, considering the wellbeing of people, the community, and the planet. Youngsters will need to show their home in the context of its wider place, including connections to work, green space and transport links, and how smart technology would be used to support new ways of living.  

George Clarke, MOBIE founder, says, “I am delighted that we are launching this exciting design challenge for schools in Sedgemoor, to create a new home and place on the ground-breaking Gravity smart campus and community – a place for clean, advanced manufacturing industries and for people to live, a new place to live, work and play.  

“By harnessing the talents, ideas and energy of the young people of today we can change the way we create places and how we build homes. The amazing student designs that I know will flow from this challenge will show that we have a future generation with the talent and the imagination to really make a difference for people and the planet.”

Support for students and teachers

MOBIE and Bounce Forward have already hosted a webinar to provide participating schools with information and support about how to get involved. Further webinars for schools are available on request. Bounce Forward will also run three webinars aimed at secondary school students to support their involvement with the competition and personal resilience. In addition, Bounce Forward will run webinars to support teachers’ personal development.

Lucy Bailey, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Bounce Forward, explains: “Our overall aim is to help young people develop resilience, not just to overcome setbacks, but to solve problems and think creatively. In the context of this competition, we want to support students, and their teachers, to be open and curious to new perspectives and have the confidence to let their imaginations go.” 

Cllr Gill Slocombe, Deputy Leader of Sedgemoor District Council, adds: “This competition presents a wonderful opportunity for young people to get involved with Gravity – a project of national and international importance located here in their local area. As plans emerge to create this innovative and sustainable community in Sedgemoor, it’s important we listen to what young people want from Gravity, and for their future.”

The Gravity Young Persons’ Design Challenge has three age categories, 9-11, 12-15 and 16-18. The finalists will be announced on 18 June and the winners revealed at an event to take place in June or July 2021 (details to be confirmed). For more information, visit: https://www.mobie.org.uk/challenges/gravity

 

About Gravity

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.

Based on the site of the former Royal Ordnance Factory, between the villages of Puriton and Woolavington, Gravity will be home to businesses making a difference socially, economically, and environmentally. The aim is to drive the UK’s shift towards a zero-carbon economy, placing Sedgemoor at the centre of the clean growth revolution – benefitting local villages, the town of Bridgwater, and the wider region.

Expected to create around 4,000 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.

For further information, visit https://thisisgravity.co.uk/

About MOBIE

Architect and TV Presenter George Clarke founded the Ministry of Building Innovation and Education (MOBIE) in 2017 to inspire young people to revolutionise the way we think about homes. We need younger generations to define how they want to live now and in the future, and MOBIE helps them do it.

https://www.mobie.org.uk/

About Bounce Forward

Bounce Forward is a national charity that delivers inspiring and practical training programmes to support young people to reach their full potential in life. The charity believes that teaching resilience skills should sit alongside academic lessons and have spent 13 years working directly with more than 1,800 schools and delivering research to evidence what they do.

Core principles

  • Resilience is not just about overcoming setbacks, it’s also about making the most of opportunities
  • We base our approach and training on solid research, theory and evidence
  • We teach skills and strategies that work in the real world
  • The adults matter: their role is vital in helping children and young people be resilient and thrive

https://bounceforward.com

 

Delivery Group Meeting – March 2021

Partners discuss Social Value programme for Gravity     

Plans for Gravity to collaborate with two educational charities as part of its social value programme were shared at the project’s latest Delivery Group meeting on 24 March.

Gravity’s social value programme is part of our commitment to create lasting benefits for the communities where we are based. Social value refers to the positive difference we are making locally. 

Bounce Forward, a charity dedicated to teaching young people resilience as a life skill, and the Ministry of Building Innovation and Education (MOBIE), which aims to inspire young people to rethink the way we design and build homes, will work with Gravity to engage local young people with the project.

The Delivery 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 regularly 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.

Bounce Forward and MOBIE both gave presentations explaining how their aims align with Gravity’s vision of inspiring young people to get involved in shaping the places they live. Claire Pearce, Director of Planning and Economic Development at Gravity, said the charities’ collaboration with Gravity underlined ‘the project’s genuine commitment to creating social value and working with individuals to build skills, raise ambitions, and showcase training and career opportunities’.

A healthy and inclusive community

Other matters discussed at the session included emerging plans for how the site will integrate with its surrounding natural environment, ensuring that the people who live and work here, as well as the local communities, have access to green space. Being a ‘healthy place’ that supports people’s wellbeing is a key part of Gravity’s vision.

Progress to build the new link road, which is nearing completion, the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment and development of low carbon infrastructure and energy strategies for Gravity were also presented.

Gravity will hold a third webinar on the subject of kickstarting a green recovery on 21 April, which is open to all members of the community and local businesses. Anyone who’s interested in joining us, and feeding in your ideas about how Gravity can support the UK’s shift towards a zero-carbon economy, can register here.

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

Gravity Link Road – Anticipated local road closures

local-road-closures-april-may2021

Week commencing 5th April

Opening of Old Puriton Hill two-way traffic from hall road to A39 roundabout followed by the closeure of Hillside.

Week commencing 19th May

Hall Road outbound restriction

Week commencing 24th May

Hall road full closure to Old Puriton for final surfacing

Please be advised that the listed road closures are subject to Somerset County Council approval. If you have any questions regarding road closures please contact info@thisisgravity.co.uk

Delivery Group Meeting – February 2021

Partners discuss possibilities for Gravity site   

Emerging principles that will shape Gravity’s future as a place for businesses to invest and create thousands of high value jobs have been shared with partners.

Technical diagrams setting out how different parts of the site could be used to create a sustainable, smart campus were discussed at the latest Gravity Delivery Group meeting on 24 February.

The group, which contains local and national partners, has been set up to facilitate the delivery of Gravity as an Enterprise Zone and internationally renowned smart campus.

They are meeting regularly as Gravity progresses with fresh plans in a Local Development Order to create 4,000 jobs and attract international investment into the UK at the former Royal Ordnance Factory site.

A connected community

Other matters discussed at the session included the emerging plans to make the site well connected and accessible for people who live and work there – a key part of Gravity’s sustainability ambitions. In addition to the link road which is progressing well, Gravity aims to provide smart transport connections that minimise carbon emissions. A restored rail service, bus services and support for electric and autonomous vehicles as well as micro mobility (e-bikes and scooters) and safe leisure routes for walking, cycling and horse riding, all form part of this overall ambition.

We will hold another webinar on the subject of connectivity on March 17, which is open to all members of the community and local businesses. Anyone who’s interested in joining us and feeding in your ideas about the future of work and transport, and mobility choices in the locality can sign up here.

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

Gravity Link Road Update – March 10

Gravity and Alun Griffiths are continuing to host the Link Road Q&A sessions virtually. The next sessions will be held on Wednesday 10th March. If you want to understand more about work happening at Gravity? Be sure to join us online for those virtual Q&A community drop-in sessions.

The location may have changed, but the opportunity to ask any question on the Link Road has not.

Paul Lowndes, Gravity Programme Director runs these informative sessions with the help of Alun Griffiths and Stantec. They will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about the progress of the link road.

These sessions are open to all.

Gravity hosts first community webinar

Over 80 people attended Gravity’s first community webinar, held on 26 January 2021, to find out more about the project to create the UK’s first smart campus and community.

Entitled ‘Gravity: what’s next?’, the virtual event marks the start of an extensive process of engagement and consultation that will ensure what is proposed creates benefits for the local area and its communities. 

Speakers outlined the scheme, which is based on the site of the former Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF) between Puriton and Woolavington, and explained how it will be brought forward.

The session started with a presentation by Stuart Houlet, Assistant Director for Inward Investment and Growth at Sedgemoor District Council, about the site’s planning history and the need to adapt plans approved in 2017. Stuart discussed how an updated proposal for a ‘clean and inclusive’ Gravity was taking shape in in the context of the Somerset’s Climate Emergency Strategy and its green recovery and economic transformation goals.

Claire Pearce, Director of Planning and Economic Development at Gravity, set out the vision for Gravity with a focus on the project’s commitment to inclusive growth. Claire explained how Gravity will kick-start a new era of high-value employment in the area by attracting investment and new businesses. Claire also highlighted Gravity’s aim to work with schools and colleges to re-connect youngsters to education and work and create new training opportunities for people of all ages.

Jane Hirst, Director at Stantec, talked about the next steps in the planning process for Gravity and how the team’s improved proposals for Gravity will be set out. Finally, Social, Gravity’s public engagement consultant, detailed what to expect from the engagement programme and how people can get in touch with Gravity and share their views about the project to help shape the proposals.

The Gravity team presentation was followed by a question and answer session which saw a range of topics discussed, including; progress of the link road improving access to Gravity; the plan for a new cycle and pedestrian path between Puriton and Woolavington; job creation, post-16 education opportunities related to Gravity; and the scheme’s commitment to low carbon growth.

‘Gravity: what’s next?’ was the first in a series of virtual public events about Gravity to be held throughout 2021.  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.

  • The webinar is available in full as a recording, please click here.

Please click here for a document containing all questions asked by attendees at the webinar and our responses to those questions. Due to the number of questions received we were unable to answer every question on the night.

Vital work to connect flagship business campus to county’s road network

A major development set to bring thousands of jobs and huge investment to the heart of Somerset has reached an important milestone.

Work is progressing apace on one of the UK’s largest commercial smart campuses – Gravity at Bridgwater’s M5, Junction 23, and next month the focus shifts to connecting the low-carbon 635-acre site to the A39 and main road network.

This is the next important milestone in this major scheme, expected to bring 4,000 jobs to the county. 

This crucial work will require the closure of the A39 from Hillside to Hall Road on Puriton Hill while this next stage is carried out. The closure will commence on Monday 8 February and will last until Sunday 21 February. The road will be closed to all traffic at all times between these dates except for residents. A diversion will be in place for motorists accessing or leaving Junction 23 from and to the Street direction.

We fully understand this work will cause disruption and we’ll do everything in our power to carry this out as quickly as possible and push this exciting project towards its completion.

We’ve worked closely with our fantastic local partners, including Somerset County Council, Puriton, Woolvington and Bawdrip Parish Councils, Sedgemoor District Council and Bridgwater Chamber of Trade, to make sure they’re fully up-to-date with the project.

Gravity will be a huge boost to the economy of Bridgwater and Somerset and the whole of the South West – it’s a fantastic state-of-the art low-carbon business campus which will really put us on the map in terms of attracting new and established businesses to the County,” said Cllr David Hall, Somerset County Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development.

We appreciate there will be some short-term disruption while the A39 is closed for both residents and motorists heading to and from the M5, but the long term gain for the county is immense.

Paul Lowndes, Gravity Programme Director

Residents should please liaise with on-site staff with regard to access.

During the road closure a suggested diversion route will be clearly signposted on site or can be found at www.thisisgravity.co.uk/community-link-road and there’s an interactive map on Roadworks – Travel Somerset

December 2020 Newsletter

Highlights

  • Sedgemoor District Council has approved Gravity’s plans to provide safe, sustainable connections between Puriton and Woolavington
  • Gravity’s plans for a farmstead of six low-carbon homes at Knowle Hill will be submitted to Sedgemoor District Council early in the new year
  • Community salutes link road roundabout ‘smiley man’
  • Gravity welcomes the launch of the Somerset-wide Climate Emergency Strategy, developed by the county’s five councils
  • Gravity’s pioneering sustainable materials management strategy is guiding the construction of the link road
  • Gravity’s chairman Martin Bellamy explains why a post-coronavirus green recovery is so important to the South West at a national webinar 
  • Gravity is championing its ‘smart campus’ as a UK destination for inward investment and a key flagship project in the South West with a wealth of activity, including participation in discussions hosted by the Western Gateway and Business West and overseas activity with Department for International Trade.

Welcome to Gravity’s December newsletter!

Despite the challenges we, like everyone, have faced in 2020, this has also been a year of fantastic progress for Gravity. We have been relentless in our pursuit of transforming our vision of a smart campus that offers a blueprint for a cleaner, smarter future into a reality.

Our proposals will be set out in a Local Development Order (LDO), which is simply another form of planning permission. An LDO sets overall standards and guidelines for a complex development, which helps create more certainty about what the site will offer. Our LDO proposal will evolve during 2021, including a formal public consultation.

We have also made good progress on the link road – a key access road that will link Gravity to the A39, which connects to Junction 23 of the M5. The new road is the first key step in bringing Gravity forward and will be open in the spring of 2021. 

2020 has also seen us draw up our plan for a farmstead of six homes at Knowle Hill near Puriton. These high energy performance, low-carbon homes demonstrate our commitment towards creating a cleaner and more sustainable future. 

We are looking forward to another year full of progress. 2021 will see us work with our partners to collaborate with, and support, Sedgemoor District Council to adopt the LDO. This will represent an important milestone, enabling us to support the government’s marketing of the Gravity Enterprise Zone to investors from across the world. Somerset will be at the heart of a green economic recovery, accelerating positive action to address climate change.

Please read on for a summary of our key news. Finally, we hope you have a merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year. 


Your opinion counts!

2021 will be a defining year for Gravity as we start to shape the Local Development Order (LDO), which will set the overall planning guidance for the site. Your views count and we will start a formal public consultation on our proposals next year. This will continue, and build on, the open conversation that we have already established with the community with our link road and Knowle Hill projects. 

Collaborating with the community is of paramount importance to us at Gravity! We were incredibly honoured to support the amazing efforts of the local community in delivering over 7,000 free meals earlier this year.

Part of our commitment to working with the community has been to enlist the support of locally based consultation experts Social. You are welcome to contact the Social team with any questions about how the consultation process will work at gravity@social.co.uk or call 0330 1070 353. Further information on how you can get involved will follow in the New Year.


Village Enhancement Scheme

Gravity car-free link

Sedgemoor District Council has approved Gravity’s planning application for a ‘Village Enhancement Scheme’ to improve connections between Puriton and Woolavington. The scheme includes traffic-calming measures and a new car-free path between the two villages which also connects to the Gravity site and the 37 Club. Find out more.


Securing local jobs for local people 

“A real ray of sunshine – amongst the gloom of the recent news of national redundancies” – that was a quote from Cllr Gill Slocombe, Sedgemoor’s Portfolio Holder for Inward Investment and Growth – as she endorsed a key Local Labour Agreement with Gravity.

The agreement paves the way to secure local benefit and social value by creating skills, training and employment opportunities for the Sedgemoor community.  Find out more


Knowle Hill

Knowle Hill event

Thank you to everyone who has told us what they think about our plan to create a new community of six, low-carbon homes at Knowle Hill, near Puriton. Working with our design partner architect Origin3, our plan re-imagines the former water filtration works at Knowle Hill as a farmstead of six high energy performance homes. We will submit a planning application to Sedgemoor District Council early in the new year. Find out more


Community salutes link road’s ‘smiley man’

Steve Bryce of contractor Alun Griffiths, who has been working on the link road roundabout, has been presented with flowers and a card by the local community for being a ‘happy and smiley’ man. Steve has been on site at the new roundabout for several months and has become well known in the locality for greeting everyone who passes by.


Link Road Update

Gravity teamed up with its link road contractor Alun Griffiths to present a webinar hosted by the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) about how the new road is being built with a focus on sustainable growth. Over 145,000 tonnes of site material has been transported from the Gravity site and reused to construct the link road. Watch Gravity’s ‘Delivering Clean Growth’ webinar for full details about our sustainable materials management strategy. We continue to hold bi-monthly drop-in sessions for people to find out more about the link road. The next session will take place in late January or early February – please check our website for more info.


Climate Emergency Strategy 

Gravity welcomes the launch of the Somerset-wide Climate Emergency Strategy agreed by the county’s five councils. The strategy sets out a plan for Somerset to go carbon neutral by 2030. Details of the plan can be found here.


Green recovery

In a recent Real Estate Live panel event hosted by Property Week, chairman of Gravity Martin Bellamy explained why a post-coronavirus green recovery was so important to the South West. Martin commented: “The thing that’s going to have the biggest impact in the South West by a long way is the opportunities that will be afforded to the region by the necessity to transition to a green economy.” Watch the webinar


Fulfilling Gravity’s planning conditions

Gravity continues to address the planning conditions and obligations associated with the existing planning permission on the main site. This helps to make progress by improving certainty for potential occupiers. The Strategic Design Code and Strategic Landscape Masterplan have been approved earlier in the year. Documents have been submitted to the council in respect of further conditions relating to remediation, ecological management, surface water operations and management and effluent infrastructure. In total there are 11 conditions to discharge.


Gravity goes global

The Department for International Trade (DIT) presented Gravity as an investment opportunity at the Word Pensions Summit 2020, which took place virtually in October. Find out more

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