Partners discuss how Gravity will kickstart a green economy
Gravity’s role in driving the UK’s transition to a zero-carbon economy was among the key topics discussed at the project’s latest Delivery Group meeting on 20 April.
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 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.
In his presentation, Jonathan Riggall, Director at Stantec, gave an overview of Gravity’s clean and inclusive growth strategy. He explained how the project aims to be a catalyst for regional change and innovation, creating high-value jobs in ‘future-proof’ sectors such as advanced manufacturing, robotics and R&D. Jonathan also talked about the project’s wider role within the government’s ten-point plan for a ‘green industrial revolution’.
Upskilling and meeting businesses’ needs
Sam Harper, Senior Associate Planner at Stantec, gave an update on the plans to deliver the project.
Sam also explained the need for Gravity to compete on an international stage to attract the most innovative, clean growth companies. He said that a key part of Gravity’s offering would be its access to, and development of, local and national talent.
Sam outlined how the project is forming partnerships with organisations such as the University of Bristol and Bridgwater and Taunton College (BTC) to further enhance local and regional talent pools and showcase new training and career opportunities. Sam said Hinkley Point C, the largest construction project in Europe, was a testament the region’s potential to deliver, and resource, largescale projects.
A healthy and inclusive community
Other matters discussed at the session included emerging plans for how the site will include leisure and amenity space and integrate with its surrounding natural environment. The vision is to ensure that the people who live and work at Gravity, as well as the local communities, have access to green, active, and healthy space.
A community webinar was held on the topic of a green economy on 21 April. The third in a series of webinars to explain Gravity’s ambitions gave people the opportunity to understand the benefits the plans could help the UK to unlock.
Gravity will hold a fourth webinar on the subject of creating a smart community on 26 May, 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 creation of a smart and connected community, can register. You can download the slides here that were shared at the last Delivery Group meeting
