Community

An Enterprise Zone is a Government’s tool to accelerate the delivery of jobs and business growth. The status is awarded by Government for a period of 25 years to speed up delivery of employment sites and to attract inward investment into an area.

Current legislation includes several incentives to businesses relocating to an Enterprise Zone area – simplified planning process and potential to use Local Development Orders, reduction in business rates for up to 5 years or Enhanced Capital Allowance. In addition all business rates collected from an Enterprise Zone are retained and reinvested locally providing a further boost to the local economy.

Yes, the site currently has an outline planning consent for 222 acres of commercial development, including mixture of uses. The road also benefits from full planning consent, allowing construction to come forward at the outset.

The owner of the site, This Is Gravity Ltd are making significant progress with development of the site. The site is undergoing extensive remediation works at a significant cost which is due to be completed by December 2019. The link road has been awarded Growth Deal Fund money from the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership which shows government’s commitment to the delivery of Gravity. Sedgemoor District Council works closely with wider partners to ensure the development is progressing well and the site attracts inward investment.

Huntspill Energy Park was bought by Salamanca Group in 2017. A year later the owners revealed new branding and a new concept for the old Royal Ordnance Factory Bridgwater site. 

Yes, our latest research shows that Gravity could create 4,000 jobs. Attracting international hi-tech businesses to the campus will create a wide range of job and training opportunities. Please continue to visit this site where we will be advertising jobs in the future.

The new road will link the site to the M5 at Junction 23. The new link road will help to reduce congestion and will divert the traffic away from the villages of Puriton and Woolavington. Additionally the Section 106 agreement includes a provision for a range of village enhancement schemes that will be delivered in both villages by the developer.

Alun Griffiths, the main contractor for the road have created a dedicated webpage on their website which will provide most up-to-date information on the construction progress.

Alun Griffiths have also appointed Jim Aitken as a Community Liaison Officer who can be contacted directly on 0330 041 2184 for more information. There will also be regular drop in sessions for local residents to hear more about the project.

The road had an initial 12-month build-up programme to be followed by landscaping work and creation of a noise bund. Due to the impact of covid-19 it is anticipated that the Link Road will be open in March 2021.

Under the current plans an energy operator will be the first occupier on site. It is envisaged that the plant will be operational in the second half of 2020.

Sedgemoor District Council and This Is Gravity Ltd are committed to creating jobs and commercial opportunities for local people and businesses. There is a Local Labour Agreement which means there is a requirement to fill jobs created during the construction and operational phases with local people.

Under current plans the site has a 15-20 years build-out programme.

The Council has a dedicated page on its website where additional information can be found: www.sedgemoor.gov.uk/enterprisezone.

In its Industrial Strategy the Government has identified 4 Grand Challenges, one of them being Clean Growth. The definition says it is “growing our national income while cutting greenhouse gas emissions”. It will involve new technologies to reduce energy consumption, more efficient buildings but also a behavioural change in how all of us use energy in our day-to-day lives.

The developers Gladman, have put in proposals to build 120 new homes on land off of Woolavington Road in Puriton. For further information click here.

Employees who must be on-site are applying social distancing and hygiene protocols based on guidance from health authorities. Reduced numbers of workers onsite will ensure that social distancing guidance is adhered to.