First phase of ring road around Somerset’s £4bn ‘gigafactory’ approved
Green light given for first phase of orbital road to serve Somerset’s emerging gigafactory hub
The first phase of a new ring road surrounding Somerset’s new ‘gigafactory’ can begin construction shortly after planning permission was granted.
Agratas is in the process of delivering a £4bn ‘gigafactory’ at the Gravity enterprise zone between Puriton and Woolavington, which will begin operating in late-2027.
Construction is proceeding at pace on ‘Building One’ at the south-western corner of the site, with the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) recently committing an additional £380m of investment to drive the development forward.
Somerset Council has now granted permission for the first section of the new orbital round which will eventually surround the Gravity site – meaning construction can begin in the near-future.
The entire Gravity enterprise zone has been subject to a local development order (LDO) since December 2021, in a bid to speed up the delivery of any investment within the site.
An LDO grants planning permission for development which is suitable for a given parcel of land within a large site – meaning detailed plans can be approved more rapidly so long as they are deemed compliant with the LDO.
The latest plans cover the southernmost section of the orbital road, which will run from the Building One site as far as the new electricity substation which National Grid intends to have up and running by late-2028.
Two new roundabouts will be constructed at the western end of this section – one to connect the site to the Enterprise Way access, and one to provide internal connections within the Gravity site.
The ring road will run along across the existing Loverose Way north of the 37 Sports and Social Club (which will relocate to Woolavington Road under separate proposals) and bend to the north to the substation site, with a new access being created onto Ham Lane.
Emergency vehicles will be able to access the ring road via the B3141 Causeway in the event that Enterprise Way is obstructed, with the entire single-carriageway road being subject to a 30mph speed limit.
In line with previous plans approved in May 2023, this orbital road will include a wide shared use pedestrian and cycle path along its entire length, with new connections being provided south of the substation to allow access to Woolavington Surgery via Crockers Hill.
A spokesperson for Agratas said: “Public transport will be served on the northbound carriageway with a lay-by bus stop.
“It is proposed that potential future through services on Woolavington Road accessing the site could drop off and pick up at this stop, U-turning at the first roundabout to exit the site.
“The pedestrian/ cycleway will connect to the existing facilities on Woolavington Road and the approved enhancement scheme which will provide an off-carriageway connection between the villages of Woolavington and Puriton.”
Councillor Mike Rigby, portfolio holder for economic development, planning and assets, provided a further update on the Gravity site ahead of a meeting of the council’s climate and place scrutiny committee on Thursday (April 23).
He said in his written report: “The cladding process for Building One is now under way with concrete floor screeds being put down including at first floor levels.
“The ancillary buildings are being constructed currently with additional piling under way.
“Further phase one infrastructure works, including surface water drainage and haul roads, are nearing completion for the Agratas development.
“Currently there are approximately 600 workers on site. Phase two of the
construction works will continue over a period of 14 months, which will see an increase to around 2,900 construction workers being on site.
“Discussions on the development of the new junction 22a of the M5 motorway are ongoing with National Highways.”
The council is expected to make a decision shortly on plans to deliver a replacement of the 37 Sports and Social Club on Woolavington Road in Puriton.