Gravity will soon be releasing ‘Powering the UK’s Green Revolution‘ a report outlining how best the UK can transition from rhetoric and ideology towards practical steps and actions that will stimulate the clean growth sectors. Watch this space for our list of recommendations for how both the public and private sectors can contribute to the UK’s Green revolution.
#Blog: What will the future of the UK’s Pharma and R&D lab space look like?
Read our latest blog which explores the trends covid is expected to have on the creation and funding of the UK’s next generation of laboratory spaces, predominantly affecting the UK’s research & development and pharmaceutical industries.
In March, the construction of the Gravity Link Road ‘green bridge’ began. The bridge will become a feature of the area for generations to come. This is the latest milestone towards the completion of the Link Road which will connect the Gravity – Smart Campus to the UK motorway network. Watch the latest drone video below.
Future of transport at Gravity
Gravity recently hosted a webinar, outlining its commitment to improving local and regional transport links, including the creation new ‘green’ multi-use paths and future ‘smart’ transport solutions.
On-site preparations including a new wrap-around sign signaling the shovel-readiness of Gravity. If your business is open to becoming part of the smart campus’s collaborative culture, then download the Gravity brochure or contact JLL for more information.
Smart Campus at the heart of educational initiatives
Gravity is proud to be part of several education-based initiatives.
Gravity is at the heart of a collaborative learning experience with Knowle Hall and the wider Yew Wah international schools in China. Overseen by Gravity team members, the project asked international students to develop their thoughts on the Green Economy and the innovations Gravity could house for future tenants.
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.
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 asks Ian Liddell-Grainger MP his views on what aFreeport would mean to Bristol and the UK economy
Get to know Jonathan Davis, the newest member of our team, he shares what excites him the most about Gravity
Gravity weighs in on how to make the ‘Green Recovery‘ real and not just idealogical
Gravity now receiving Elon Musk’s mail
MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset talks about Great Western Freeport with Gravity
Freeport status has been all over the press this month and with some hard-hitting conflicting views. With no political agenda, just a desire to support the UK economy, we talk directly to our local MP on what exactly is the deal with Freeports. Click here to read the full interview.
Gravity signs Open Letter to Chancellor on need for Great Western Freeport
Gravity joined business leaders from across the West of England with an open letter to Chancellor Rishi Sunak in support for the Great Western Freeport bid, describing the proposal as a “world-class trade and jobs hub”.
Gravity receives Elon Musk’s mail
The Gravity team was quite surprised to see a letter addressed to Elon Musk arrive in the post from a supplier of digital microscopes. We naturally have sent the letter to a forwarding address
What is it about Gravity, that excites its team?
Meet the newest member of the Gravity delivery team. Find out what excites Jonathon about our smart campus, why the UK needs a site like Gravity and his desert island playlist
Gravity hosts roundtable ‘Powering the UK’s Green Recovery’
On 20 January, Gravity hosted a forward-thinking and lively roundtable discussion ‘Powering the UK’s Green Recovery’. The event focused on how the UK can practically implement the government’s ambitious commitments to achieve net-zero by 2050. Chaired by Gravity Director, Lord David Triesman, the discussion brought together industry-leading ideas from public and private sectors. Highlights from the event will be available on our website soon.
Gravity launches interactive map
We have launched an interactive map that captures feedback and ideas from local residents about our development. Gravity will use data from this map to ensure that we produce a site that works for all stakeholders. Find it here.
Gravity Link Road Update
5G trial agreed to support operations at Bristol Port and Gravity Smart Campus
The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) has secured more than £3m from the Government to test how the country can seize the full benefits of 5G and help businesses harness the power of modern technology. WECA’s 5G Logistics project programme will develop 5G products and services to support operations at Bristol Port and Gravity Smart Campus. Find out more.
Gravity Chairman to join Green Investment panel discussion
Gravity Chairman, Martin Bellamy will be joining a panel discussion that aims to highlight the role of the investment and development sectors in the drive to net zero.
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.
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.
Firstly, I hope this newsletter finds you, your family, and your colleagues safe and healthy. I would also like to thank the Gravity team and our partners, who, under unusual working conditions, have done some exceptional work and achieved great things. I would particularly like to pay my gratitude to the 37 Club for providing over 7,000 much-needed meals to the local community.
It’s exactly a year since we had ourGround Breaking event at Gravity; I believe the last two months have been some of the busiest. The Link Road and landscaping bund is well underway which I am sure the residents will be pleased about.
I also want to bring to your attention our newly launched video on Gravity, which you can watch here.
The Strategic Design Code and Landscape Masterplan are now with the council for consideration. Gravity is also working with the District Council to explore a new planning consent called a Local Development Order that seeks to create employment but also improves climate action and addresses broader sustainable development goals. This is going to be key to drive forward the strategic response to economic renewal and job creation.
Thank you to all those who contributed to the consultation event on the Village Enhancement Scheme. We will be submitting a full planning application on this as soon as possible.
I recently had the pleasure of discussing what Gravity means to the South West with MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset, Ian Liddell-Grainger. You can watch the full interview here, including Mr. Liddell-Grainger’s response when I ask him what he would say to entice Mr. Elon Musk to Gravity!
Keeping open levels of communication is top of our list, and I am pleased to announce that we are re-instating our Drop-In sessions with the next one on the 8th July. These sessions are open to all, alternatively, do email us any queries if you wish to keep in touch from home.
We are anticipating a busy summer as we work with the Government department Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS),the Department of International Trade (DIT),and a plethora of entities in promoting the SW as vital in terms of strategic economic renewal post-Covid 19. Our work with BEISwill be centered on supporting the South West’s aim to become the UK’s hub for clean and inclusive growth. We will look at all opportunities to enable this, from rail restoration through to improving digital connectivity, exploring free port zone, through to targeting sectors and occupiers that would be a perfect fit and create higher-value job opportunities into the future.
I look forward to updating you on our progress in our September newsletter.
Thank you for your own going support, and please keep safe.
Gravity will be restarting the Q&A community drop-in sessions. These events are open to all, with the appropriate social distancing, so if you have any questions or want to know more about our project.
Please join us – you do not need to register in advance.
8th July
3 – 7pm
The 37 Club (TA7 8AD)
Link Road Update
A record-breaking Spring has kept the team ahead of schedule on the landscape bund, so far 60,000 tonnes of recycled blast mound material has been 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 next step will be to submit plans to the council for the Village Enhancement Scheme to provide important links between Gravity and the two villages. Thank you to everyone that contributed to make this such a collaborative process and inform the design. This is very much appreciated. Plans should be submitted end of June/ early July.
Strategic Design Code & Landscape Masterplan
Already submitted to the council to discharge ‘site-wide’ planning conditions, these strategy documents take us a significant step forward in thinking through and communicating our ambition for clean growth and turning this into design guidance on which further planning applications will be assessed. These documents are available on the Council’s web site.
Next Steps
There is a good deal of work underway from; ecological surveys to keep our baseline up to date, crafting our clean growth principles and priorities, to initiating a digital masterplan and a refreshed transport strategy. We look forward to sharing our progress in our next newsletter.
Community Meal Delivery Service
With the incredible support of volunteers from The 37 Club, Woolavington & Puriton Parish Councils and the wider community, Gravity established a food delivery service. Its aim was to reach those locally who were most in need during self-isolation.
Since the service was set up, the team has served over 7,000 meals to the communities of Woolavington and Puriton.
The 37 Club has been inundated with heartfelt messages of gratitude from residents who have relied on this service.
We wanted to take this opportunity to thank everybody who has enabled us to deliver these meals and support the local communities. Feats like this are achieved collectively as a community, one that Gravity is proud to be a part of.
Heritage Film – Coming Soon
Unique memories of the Royal Ordnance Factory Bridgwater have been captured in an upcoming short film produced in collaboration between Sedgemoor District Council, South West Heritage Trust and Somerset Film. We look forward to sharing the film.
Gravity in the media
Since our last newsletter in April, Gravity has appeared across several media outlets including BBC Radio Somerset, The Times, The Driving Supplement of the Sunday Times and Property Week. It has been a great few months for investment in the South West and drawing attention to the potential of the region
Gravity’s Director – Planning and Economic Development, Claire Pearce, recently participated in a panel discussion hosted by The Built Environment Network. The webinar focused on the challenges and opportunities faced in delivery the Western Gateway – the new proposed powerhouse forming a collaborative approach between the West of England and South Wales.
Whist being located in the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership area, the Sedgemoor economy is closely aligned and functionally integrated with the Bath/ Bristol economy, and emerging opportunities relating to Free Port Zones, rail restoration and research into digital connectivity, will serve to build and strengthen relationships for example between Gravity and the airport, port and Bristol University.
Firstly, I hope you, your family and colleagues are all healthy as we adjust to this new challenge set upon us. In many respects, for the Gravity team, it is business as ‘usual’ as we continue to deliver our world-leading smart campus from our respective homes during these trying times.
All of us here at Gravity are most concerned for the safety and well-being of our families, colleagues, customers, partners, and the many friends who make up Gravity’s vibrant family, which is why we have put the following measures in place.
Working Remotely: With many already used to working flexibly, this shift has fortunately been relatively smooth, and we believe should have little impact on our ability to deliver.
We’re also asking our teams and clients to work through digital channels as much as possible. This includes our events, which we are either postponing or transforming into virtual events. This is also an area where we are currently developing and providing new solutions for online events: both our own and our partners.
Meetings with our consultant team and partners will continue virtually to maintain momentum and to continue to make progress over this period. We will be using the time to make progress discharging site-wide planning conditions and developing our approach to achieving our ambitions. • Safety On-Site: Employees who must be on-site are applying social distancing and hygiene protocols based on guidance from health authorities.
Link Road completion: The government has deemed this work ‘Critical Infrastructure’, and as such it is still going ahead. We are pleased to be able to support this as it does provide a vital link for our communities and are doing everything we can to help these works proceed in a safe and controlled manner. You can read more here.
Meals for high risk: Gravity is working alongside Puriton & Woolavington Parish Councils to provide hot meals to the 60-80 individuals who are the most vulnerable and isolated in the local community. I would personally like to extend my gratitude to the volunteers that are preparing and delivering this much needed hot meal service.
Thank you for your own going support, we are all in this together. MartinBellamy, Chairman
In the news
Gravity Chairman, Martin Bellamy discusses regional investment with the BBC
Gravity Chairman, MartinBellamy, spoke with BBC political correspondent Alex Forsyth about the need for greater regional investment from Government, enabling the South West’s infrastructure and mobility offering to develop in line with the rest of the UK. Gravity is proud to represent the SouthWest ambition to change the UK economy into a clean one. The interview aired on BBC 10 O’clock news on March 1st.
Despite the wettest February on record, the construction of the Link Road is on track. The majority of the road has been surfaced; the focus of construction has shifted to the three roundabouts between the A39 and the entrance at Gravity. We have attained permission from Somerset county council to work on weekends to ensure that the Woolavington Road will reopen by Easter.
To stay up to date with progress on the link road, visit the Alun Griffiths community pageor join us for one of the regular community drop-in sessions held at The 37 club.
On Wednesday, 11th March, Gravity and Stantec hosted the Public Consultation for the proposed village enhancement scheme for Puriton and Woolavington. The recent event which outlined proposed plans for a foot and cycle path between the villages along with other improvements was met with a generally positive response from residents. A resident described the event as a “very informative afternoon”. Continued developments of the scheme can be found on our community page.
Link Road Community Drop in
Gravity and Alun Griffiths are continuing to co-host the link road community drop-ins. This gives residents a chance to meet the team and see the progress of the link road in person. The last drop-in that was held at the 37 Club on Wednesday 11th February was well attended by residents and local businesses.
Movers and Shakers – “How does the real estate marketplace deliver change?”
Gravity Chairman, Martin Bellamy, delivered a keynote speech at a Movers & Shakers event in Bristol. He outlined how Gravity will look beyond office space and ensure that the working environments created are rooted in the wellbeing of the people that will use the site.
As we enter the final weeks of the year, this moment offers a unique
opportunity to reflect on Gravity’s journey to becoming the UK’s leading Smart
campus.
Gravity is anything but ordinary. By its very nature, it explores the
‘Art of the Possible.’ Already considered to be the UK’s flagship on the
interplay between the technology and the physical campus estate, it will lead
the way in transforming the South West into a Clean Growth Economy. That means
new challenges, new businesses, new opportunities.
In the two years since its inception, many significant milestones have
been achieved. Gravity has been developing at speed, the Link road is on
schedule, the architectural plans are in full swing, and some exciting
companies are looking to Gravity to call home.
Those who have heard me speak lately, will know the Clean Energy is a
driving force for Gravity. We welcomed the news in September that the Climate
Minister promised a much needed major revamp of the 2017 Clean Growth Strategy
that set out how the UK planned to meet the government’s new 2050 net-zero
emission target. But are their actions enough? This month saw the news that
climate change could be irreversible by 2030 as we are using more of the
earth’s resources than it can renew. If we carry on using the earth’s resources
at our current rate of consumption, we’d need 1.7 planets to support the demand
on the earth’s ecosystems. I find this
incredibly worrying, and even more so, there is a call to arms for industries
to protect our planet and move to zero emissions.
As we move into 2020, the demand for lowing admissions presents a unique
opportunity to use clean technology at Gravity to achieve economic growth and
sustainable development for Somerset and the South West. The immediate
challenge for us and for all stakeholders along the Gravity value chain is to
react fast enough to the change in consumers, technology, and the climate. As we harness these changes, we believe we
can help The South West to better serve the needs of society and the environment.
Having broken ground on the site-unlocking access road in 2019, we envisage that 2020 will be the year that Gravity becomes the latest edition to the UK’s megaproject map. Whatever the outcome for Thursday, Gravity will continue to drive partnerships between government, academia, private sector & the community.
I hope you have a merry festive season and I look forward to updating
you in the New Year on more of Gravity’s advancements that will benefit the
South West.
Martin Bellamy, Gravity Chairman
Our Progress
Rail Connectivity at Gravity
Tom Curtis – Co-CEO
Pioneering new approaches to sustainable transport are a critical element for all developments, but nowhere more so than at Gravity. Our vision ensures that the majority of freight and passengers will be brought to and from our site by rail. With the major transport links of Bristol deep sea port and the cities of Exeter and Bristol, all within a 45- minute rail journey of the site, our reliance on road transport is significantly reduced. We have therefore commissioned Network Rail to carry out a full feasibility and design project to assess the deliverability of both freight and passenger terminals on-site, connecting Gravity directly to the mainline. Having rail infrastructure will hugely increase the speed of take-up of space on the site and most importantly, will also broaden the range of occupiers who will be attracted to the site given its national reach. We welcome the support of the HotSW LEP and other partners in working with us to explore this potential.
On time, on track
Paul Lowndes – Programme Director
Gravity reached a milestone in the Summer with the commencement of the Link Road, a 12-month project to connect the site directly to the M5 at junction 23.
We are on track to start construction on site by Summer 2020. The Puriton Junior School noise and pollution monitoring programme remains ongoing and we are delighted with low impact scores to date. We are incredibly proud to be the first real estate private company to receive Growth Deal funding for transport infrastructure by the Heart of the South West LEP Growth Deal Fund.
Our aspirations are to maximise the use of local labour and local businesses, both from the immediate area and the Great South West. We continue to work with local colleagues and universities to build capacity and capability, and to ensure new occupier needs can be met.
Open for business
Gareth John – Senior Business Advisor
As an international inward investment destination, Gravity is now “open for business”. We are working with investors, the board, and through our real estate networks to communicate the Gravity site and its potential to host a new era of clean industrial growth. We are collaborating with the DIT and BEIS to help position the site to national and global investors in Clean Growth sectors and will be enthusiastic about informing trade missions and receiving international visitors to the South West. We will continue to work across the Local, Regional and National Government bodies to identify opportunities to host occupiers and target investment to enable delivery.
Flagship for the Southwest
Claire Pearce – Director – Planning and Economic Development
To realise our ambitions and achieve success, Gravity will be evolving a strategy to implement the planning consent and emerging vision, striving to make improvements to the approach to secure Clean Growth.
We are delighted with the progress on the Sedgemoor Transport Investment Strategy, funded by Gravity through our section 106 obligations, establishing clear priorities for investment until 2050.
Gravity is a ‘game-changer’ in terms of place-shaping and economic development and we are excited about the prospects ahead for new investors and occupiers to diversify and add value to the wider Sedgemoor and Somerset economies.
The team have made a clear statement of intent to host and pioneer sustainable transport, specifically in a rural context, through a Sustainable Mobility Research and Innovation Centre, partnering with institutions across the South West on a European funding bid to integrate academic input to the sites transport operations. We are very excited about partnering with the University of the West of England and linking into the Connecting Places Catapult and working with Innovate UK on the future of transport in the South West.
We are committed to ensuring that Gravity will be at the leading edge of sustainable transport providing walking, cycling and public transport options.
