M5 industrial units plan could provide huge jobs boost

New jobs could be coming to Bridgwater later this year if plans for new industrial units near the M5 are approved. The Peninsular 23 Business Park lies between the River Parrett and the A38 Bristol Road, a stone's throw from the Dunball roundabout which links Bridgwater to junction 23 of the motorway.

The business park is currently home to Monmouth Scientific, which manufactures laboratory equipment, and Willow Somerset, which constructs willow furniture along with log baskets and luxury picnic hampers. Roselea Properties Ltd. has now put forward plans for two additional buildings within the business park - with Somerset Council expected to make a ruling on the plans by the beginning of the summer.

The new units will be constructed to the south of the existing buildings, using the existing spur leading off Bristol Road. The larger building will be split into five business units, while the smaller building will contain three units - each of which can be used as office space or for light industrial purposes.

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A total of 45 car parking spaces will be provided across the two single-storey buildings, with pedestrians and cyclists being able to access the site using the shared use pavement along Bristol Road. A spokesman for Carney Sweeney Associates (representing the applicant) said: "There are a series of benefits associated with the proposal that weigh in favour of planning permission being granted.

"These include the creation of additional jobs both within the proposed development and related supply chains, along with on-site landscaping to integrate the development within the site context and contribute to biodiversity net gain. This development will promoting and enable a strong, stable and sustainable local economy through investment in a new employment area, and aid the delivery of an allocated site to meet the council’s employment requirements."

The Peninsula 23 Business Park is identified as a key commercial site within the Sedgemoor Local Plan, with its location near the motorway being seen as an advantage in securing investment in light of Bridgwater's extensive housing growth. Roselea has not specified how many new jobs could be created through this development, since at this stage no potential tenants have been publicly identified.

The council is expected to make a decision on the plans by the late-spring. If approval is granted, construction may be staggered to take account of the ongoing work on the Dunball roundabout, which is expected to be completed by early-November.