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14 April 2008

Taunton has become the home of another regional organisation. The keys were handed over this week to the Strategic Health Authority for their new regional offices on the Blackbrook Business Park.

John Cape said at the opening ceremony that it was very important to the NHS to have the right building in the right place. He said an immense amount of work had gone into selecting Taunton as the location. Somerset's county town had come out top of a list of criteria including facilities and geographical location.

He told Taunton's Mayor and Mayoress, Councillor and Mrs Ken Hayward, landlords the Pipe family, and developers Summerfield, that the site had not just been picked out of a hat.

Mr Cape said:" Taunton was scientifically chosen for the NHS in the South West and so we are delighted to be here."

About 180 staff are expected to start work in the 22,000 sq ft South West House by the end of the month.

Nigel Hounslow, Director of Commercial Development at Summerfield, is pictured (centre) with John Cape of the Strategic Health Authority and the Mayor of Taunton Deane, Cllr. Ken Hayward, with the building's 'Very Good' BREEAM certificate.

The Mayor welcomed the solar panelling and water recycling and said he was a great fan of sustainability. Mr Cape announced that the SHA would soon apply for planning permission for a turbine to generate some 25% pf the building's electrical needs.

Mr Hounslow said Blackbrook was a gateway site for Taunton and was now nearly 20 years old. It began with the location of WPA from Bristol and has since attracted other major national and regional offices including the Regional Fire and Rescue Centre.

He stressed that Summerfield was a local company, working with a local construction company and local consultants to provide quality working environments for local jobs."

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