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7 December 2007

Work is about to start on Taunton Deane's newest business park - which has the potential to provide hundreds of new jobs for the district.

Chelston House Farm will provide approximately half a million sq ft of modern business space to local, regional and national companies, very close to Junction 26 of the M5.

Planning permission was granted in April 2006 for the 44 acre Chelston House Farm site for a wide mix and range of occupiers including distribution, light and general industrial, offices, starter business units and workshops, trade counter units and car showrooms. It also has permission for a hotel and public house, which is already in solicitors' hands and being planned as a new concept by a national company.

Other possible uses to provide employment on the site include a creche, doctors' surgery or veterinary clinic, although other uses could be considered as well. Some might be subject to a separate planning permission.

Work has started clearing the site in the last couple of weeks in preparation for work on the infrastructure to begin early in the New Year. This will include a new roundabout on the A38 to the south of the existing Chelston roundabout, with an entrance into the new site.

Summerfield hopes part of the 44 acre site will be a green office park. If companies want their new offices to be as environmentally aware as possible they have the chance to start at square one with the Taunton based company Summerfield Developments.

Summerfield says all green and renewable aspects can be considered if the companies get involved at the earliest possible stage. Running costs and energy use will be designed to be minimal for occupiers.

Nigel Hounslow, Summerfield director, says the company is looking forward to providing the potential for new and existing companies in the district to grow and provide new job opportunities.

"We are expecting it to attract new businesses to the area as well as offering existing local and regional companies the chance to grow. Chelston will be competing with Bristol, Bridgwater, Cullompton and Exeter."

Developers Summerfield have already successfully developed Phase 1 and Phase 2 of Chelston Business Park at Wellington to the east of the existing roundabout. Phase 1 provided about 400,000 sq ft on 33 acres and includes a 180,000 sq ft Co-op distribution centre as well as local firms. Phase 2 has some 85,000 sq ft on 6.5 acres and was completed in mid 2005.

Over the past 15 years the Taunton company has developed more than two million sq ft of employment accommodation which include the Regional Fire Control Centre at Blackbrook and the flagship European hq for leading office environment designers Herman Miller in Chippenham.

Both achieved BREEAM Excellent accreditation Ð the highest environmental building performance standard from the Building Research Establishment.

Summerfield has developed Blackbrook Business Park, Woodwater Park at Exeter, and Turnpike Business Park at Chippenham, as well as Chelston and is developing Obelisk Park at Weston-super-Mare. Summerfield Homes has an extensive residential building programme in the South West.

The new park can provide units from 700 sq ft up to 250,000 sq ft. Summerfield Developments offer a full design and build package to suit occupiers, and freehold or leasehold options are available.

Agents for the site are Alder King, Greenslade Taylor Hunt and King Sturge of Exeter.

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