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July 2006

Taunton Deane's newest business park at Wellington will have an hotel, a family pub, car showrooms, a veterinary practice, environmental planting and a drainage lagoon as well as a range of "starter units". It will provide hundreds of jobs.

The proposed scheme on the approximately 35 acre site shows the potential for one very large unit of 250,000 sq ft, some trade retailers, standard light industrial users and starter units for new companies, with a total of 500,000 sq ft.

Summerfield Developments (SW) Ltd has issued a conceptual plan of the site following the granting of outline planning permission for the business park on land adjoining Chelston House Farm by Taunton Deane's planning committee. Highway plans include a new cycle way, which will connect with the neighbouring planned housing development of 300, homes at Cades Farm and on into Wellington. It will also see the construction of a new roundabout and entrance into the new business park from the A38 Wellington bypass, and Summerfield has agreed to make a contribution to a tendered bus service.

The layout of the site has been designed to provide for the comprehensive development of adjoining land to the east, the proposed livestock market site at Chelston Heathfield, although this is not certain to go ahead. Councillors were told the site is of key importance in meeting Taunton Deane's targets for industrial, warehouse and business development because there is a recognised regional and local shortfall.

Richard Lloyd, chief executive of Summerfield Developments (SW) Ltd, said this week he would like to thank all the councillors and officers of local authorities for their help and support in getting the scheme approved. Summerfield anticipates starting work on the new business park at the end of the year, with a five-year development programme. It will cater for local firms as well as newcomers to the area. There is already interest from local companies who were not able to get into Phase Two of the Chelston Business Park, which was finished last summer. Phase One provided 400,000 sq ft on 33 acres including a 180,000 sq ft CRS distribution centre, while Phase Two is some 85,000 sq ft on 6.5 acres. Starter units in particular are in great demand.

Summerfield have already received interest from a number of prospective occupiers for a range of uses and unit sizes. These enquiries are early but allow Summerfield to deliver buildings for specific occupiers if a deal can be reached at an early stage.

It is likely that most units will be offered on a leasehold or freehold basis. The as yet unnamed new business park will be the eighth development by Summerfield along the M5 corridor.

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