Improving local transport links, creating new ‘green’ multi-use paths and future ‘smart’ transport solutions were just a few of the topics explored at Gravity’s community webinar held on 17 March 2021.
Entitled ‘Gravity: connecting communities with smart and sustainable transport’, the webinar considered how the project to create the UK’s first smart campus and community aims to deliver a step change improvement for connectivity in the local area.
Speakers explained how the scheme, which is based on the site of the former Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF) between Puriton and Woolavington, will be brought forward with a sustainable transport infrastructure that delivers local benefits, including enhanced connections between the surrounding villages.
Sam Harper, senior associate planner at Stantec, started the session by outlining the vision for Gravity to be a beacon of clean and inclusive growth, driving the UK’s shift towards a zero-carbon economy – and the need to adapt plans approved for the site in 2017.
Sam explained how infrastructure is a key part of this vision with work already underway to put it into place, including the construction of a link road between the site and the A39, along with improvements to J23 of the M5.
Mike O’Dowd-Jones, strategic commissioner for highways and transport services at Somerset County Council, discussed how the proposal for a ‘clean and inclusive’ Gravity was taking shape in response to the context of the Somerset’s Climate Emergency Strategy and the county’s goal to be carbon neutral by 2030.
Scott Witchalls director transport and infrastructure at Stantec considered how Gravity aims to help meet this goal. Measures being considered include supporting the use of public transport, importantly this includes the project’s ambition to reinstate a railway station and railway line that used to serve the ROF. The scheme will also provide infrastructure for electric vehicles; and, in the longer term, and aim to support the use of ‘smart mobility’ such as automated (driverless) vehicles.
Ben Lowndes of Social, Gravity’s public engagement consultant, explained how people can get in touch with Gravity and share their views about any aspect of the project to help shape the proposals.
Following the Gravity team presentation, there was a question and answer session. Topics discussed included the inclusive design of the new pathway between Puriton and Woolavington, which will be suitable for pedestrians, wheelchairs, and all types of bicycles; and the scheme’s commitment to sourcing low carbon energy solutions with its energy partner E.ON.
The team also discussed connectivity across the M5 to create routes for walking and cycling to Bridgwater and beyond.
‘Gravity: connecting communities with smart and sustainable transport’ was the second in a series of virtual public events about Gravity to be held throughout 2021. These events are 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.ukor calling 0330 1070 535.
The full recording of the webinar can be found here.
The first webinar, ‘Gravity: what’s next?’, is available here.
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
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.
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 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.
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.ukor 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.
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.
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
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
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
Partners have established a group to work with Gravity to support its progress through the next stage of the transformation of its site near Bridgwater, Somerset into a sustainable smart campus.
The Gravity Delivery Group is set up to facilitate the delivery of Gravity as an Enterprise Zone and internationally renowned smart campus, which will help to create around 4,000 high quality jobs in Sedgemoor, at the heart of the South West.
The group plays an important role in guiding progress through updating plans for the site, which will happen through a Local Development Order during 2021. Proposals outlined in the order will be consulted on and people will have every opportunity to engage – online and in person.
Gravity’s plans to provide a destination for international investment, whilst creating social value in Sedgemoor through creating jobs, training and connections to wider opportunities.
Members of the delivery group include:
Gravity
Sedgemoor District Council
Somerset County Council
Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership
Highways England
Network Rail
Environment Agency
Natural England
Bridgwater and Taunton College
The Gravity Delivery Group will meet every six-to-eight weeks to progress significant strategic LDO matters aimed at supporting local partners meet their ambitions for the site. More information about how the Local Development Order will be consulted on will be shared before the end of the year.
Plans to provide safe, sustainable connections between the villages of Puriton and Woolavington have received support from Sedgemoor District Council.
The council has approved a planning application for a ‘Village Enhancement Scheme’ proposed by Gravity, which will include traffic-calming measures and a new multi-use path between the two villages connecting to the Gravity site and the 37 Club.
The scheme aims to provide a safe and attractive route for walking and cycling, reduce traffic speed, and improve highway safety within the villages of Puriton and Woolavington. It will provide the first off-road route between the two villages, and to the social club.
Importantly the measures will also help to make the Gravity Link Road, which is under construction, the preferred route into Gravity from the A39, whilst providing car-free access to Gravity and 37 Club from the villages.
Claire Pearce, Director of Planning and Economic Development at Gravity comments: “It’s important to secure the support of Sedgemoor District Council for this plan to enhance the safety and sustainability of transport links to Gravity, and within the area. Improving connectivity in the locality is a priority for us.”
Paul Lowndes, Programme Director at Gravity, comments: “The new pathway will create a much-needed, safe connection for walking and cycling between the villages of Puriton and Woolavington, and to the 37 Club.”
Gill Slocombe, Deputy Leader Sedgemoor District Council, adds: “Sedgemoor District Council is pleased to approve the Village Enhancement Scheme for Puriton and Woolavington. The whole community stands to benefit from the improved and safer connections, and the new car-free route.”
Gravity Project DocumentsThe multi-use path is one of several measures aimed at improving safe and sustainable transport connections in, and around, the two villages as part of Gravity’s ‘Clean and Inclusive’ growth strategy. It will be constructed using materials recycled from the Gravity site where possible, and new native trees will be planted along the route to further enhance the area. The path will be lit at night, and dog waste and litter bins will also be incorporated.
Gravity’s approach to the Village Enhancement Scheme reflects a key principle of the plan for the 616-acre Enterprise Zone to ensure that the Gravity site and the surrounding area is a well-connected place that supports sustainable transport.
Improving connections between Puriton and Woolavington also underlines Gravity’s commitment to support Villages Together – a community-driven initiative to improve the villages as places to live and work.
Gravity will now consider a phased approach to implementing the Village Enhancement Scheme. The scheme is part of the agreement under the existing planning permission for the main Gravity site and is required to start within one year from the formal adoption of the new link road, which is due to be completed in spring 2021.
Ends
Notes to editors
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.
Gravity endorses the South West’s capacity to lead the UK’s ‘green recovery’ with an open letter to the Chancellor
Progress on the Link Road continues apace; the focus over the summer has been forming the landscape bund
Local Development Order on track
Continued efforts to place Clean Growth at the centre of Gravity with proven evidence from delivering a successful material management strategy, and sponsoring the ‘Environmental Achievement Award’ at the 2021 Somerset Business Awards
Discussions with world-leading companies are ongoing, keep an eye on our social channels for announcements
Open Letter to the Chancellor
Martin Bellamy and Lord David Triesman, Gravity Directors, penned an open letter to the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak on 8 September, outlining the urgency of support need to support UK innovation. Gravity firmly believes the South West has the foundations in place to become a hub capable of fostering clean and inclusive economic growth. Read the open letter here.
Link Road Update
Over the summer, our focus has been on forming the landscape bund. 145,000 tonnes of blast mound material has been recovered and transported from the site to the link road. When complete, the landscape bund will act as a noise and visual barrier between activity on the link road and the local community. The recycled material used on the link road forms part of our sustainable materials management strategy, click here to find out more.
Local Development Order on-track
We are delighted with the progress to date and thank Sedgemoor District Council for drafting a Local Development Order for the Gravity enterprise zone.
We have developed our approach to clean and inclusive growth and how we are going to start to translate our vision into action. Our first delivery group meeting will be on 7 October with our partners and we look forward to sharing more updates with you shortly.
Recover, Recycle, Repurpose, Reuse
Our commitment to developing a leading smart campus underpinned by clean growth starts with its foundations. Evidence of Gravity’s successful material management strategy, created in partnership with Ashfield Solutions, is explored in an interview with Gravity’s Programme Director, Paul Lowndes.
“Our partnership with Ashfield Solutions ensures that Gravity has and continues to recover, reuse, recycle and repurpose all suitable on-site materials. This has significantly reduced disruption in surrounding communities and reduced our carbon footprint. We hope this strategy and its environmental considerations will guide more low-carbon developments across the UK
Paul Lowndes
Plans Progress for Knowle Hill
Gravity recently outlined plans for the development of six low-carbon homes at Knowle Hill. Find out more about the proposals here.
We look forward to hearing your views – leave your feedback by emailing the team.
Our Rail Plans
A £50million railway restoration is at the heart of Gravity. Network Rail’s feasibility study confirms the rail link will connect passengers and freight to Bristol, Bristol Port, Exeter and beyond, and is both deliverable and has sufficient paths to run the new rolling stock. Read more information on the railway project.
Gravity sponsors ‘Environmental Achievement Award’ at Somerset Business Awards 2021
Entries close midday 27 November, the ceremony will take place on March 26, 2021. The awards are free to enter and businesses do not need to be a member of the Chamber to take part.
Gravity in the media
Gravity Chairman, Martin Bellamy was interviewed on Wake up to Money, BBC 5 Live. The discussion centered on current business affairs, Gravity’s ambition for advanced manufacturing in the UK and the future of Apple and Tesla. Listen here.
Events
Gravity Chairman, Martin Bellamy joins the Real Estate Live UK – South West Panel.
The discussion ‘Steering Growth to the South West‘ will ask incisive questions about the key drivers of growth for the South West and evaluate the successful implementation of initiatives designed to stimulate investment in the region. Find out more.
