Plans for 500-bed campus to house Somerset gigafactory workers on hold
The majority of the workforce is now expected to be accommodated through the private rental sector, as far afield as Bristol and Exeter.
Plans for a 500-bed campus for staff at Somerset’s new £4bn ‘gigafactory’ are on hold, a senior contractor has claimed.
Construction is proceeding at pace on the ‘gigafactory’ within the Gravity enterprise zone, between Puriton and Woolavington, which will enter operation by late-2027.
Councillor Mark Healey (whose Huntspill division includes the Gravity site) claimed in December 2025 that Agratas wished to push forward with a new campus opposite Sedgemoor Crematorium, easing the pressure on Somerset’s rental market.
But Agratas has claimed this option is not currently being taken forward – with the majority of the workforce being accommodated through the private rental sector, as far afield as Bristol and Exeter.
Mr Healey, shadow portfolio holder for public health, climate change and the environment, claimed that the campus would have included restaurants, bars, a gym, conference centre and a Co-operative Food branch.
He asserted in December 2025 that delivering such a campus would cost around £17m, with the majority of the buildings being of a modular construction to speed up construction (using similar methods to those currently being employed at Bridgwater’s new diagnostic centre on Bower Lane).
Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and waste services, raised the issue when Somerset Council’s Gravity executive sub-committee met in Taunton on March 19.
He said: “There was a suggestion or rumour that there was going to be a 500-bed campus on the A38 – is that going ahead?”
Nick Cooper, community engagement manager at Agratas, responded: “There were some discussions with a property developer. They haven’t developed it very far – there’s still discussions ongoing in the background but no decisions or commitments have been taken at this time."
“It’s an option that has been looked at, but that was primarily for the Agratas team that has to come in from overseas to install the state-of-the-art equipment. But it may be that they just use the same system as the other staff."
“It’s a possibility, but I wouldn’t say it’s progressed to a stage where we can start talking about it in terms of planning matters.”
Agratas is intending to recruit around 500 employees at the Gravity site by the end of the current year, with a further 750 being added by the end of 2027.
At the peak of the construction period, Robert McAlpine (which is overseeing the construction of ‘Building One’ within the site) estimates around 2,900 people will be employed at the site.
Of these 2,900 staff, up to 58 per cent will need some form of accommodation within commuting distance of the site – the equivalent of 1,693 bed spaces.
In lieu of creating a bespoke campus, staff will be accommodated through hotels, the private rental sector and short-term lettings (using a company called Brief to Event).
Robert McAlpine commissioned a review from Stantec of private accommodation and hotels within 45 minutes’ commute of the site, seeking to ensure using these types of accommodation would not hurt the tourist trade or exacerbate the pressures caused by the construction of Hinkley Point C.
Short-term lets would be concentrated around Bridgwater, Puriton and Woolavington – though a large proportion will also be sought in the Axbridge and Cheddar area, along with a small portion just west of Street.
Private rental accommodation will be sought along the M5 corridor between Bristol and Exeter, with Taunton, Wellington and Weston-super-Mare all expected to provide a significant share.
Smaller amount of private rental accommodation will be sought in the east of Somerset, with workers being expected to travel from as far afield as Castle Cary and Wincanton.
Shuttle buses will operate from a number of key locations – including Bridgwater railway station – to reduce traffic congestion, cut emissions and prevent fly-parking on residential streets.
Additional cycle storage spaces being provided at the gigafactory to encourage more people to cycle to work using the ‘purple route’ identified in the Bridgwater local cycling and walking infrastructure plan (LCWIP), which runs from the town centre along the A38 Bristol Road and over the M5 via the Puriton footbridge.
Robert McAlpine’s programme director Nick Jones said: “We’ve been tested and challenged to make sure that we understand the lessons from Hinkley Point C and other major infrastructure projects in the area."
“Our project is very different to Hinkley Point C; our construction workforce is here for a shorter time. Notwithstanding that, there will be a lot of people coming to the area who will need accommodation."
“Brief to Event clustering people in different areas so we can then run shuttle buses to and from the site."
“We are ensuring that those accommodation areas have appropriate parking. We are very aware of the fly-parking issue with Hinkley Point C, and we will treat any complaints about that very seriously."
“We’re not avoiding Bridgwater. We know there are Hinkley Point C people there, and the hotels have been in contact with us saying they have available space."
“We know that there is a need to provide space for tourism, and we are working with the hotels to ensure that this is still accommodated.”
Council leader Bill Revans welcomed the accommodation strategy, stating: “I’m really pleased to hear that our officers are hauling you over the coals over this – though I’m not sure that’s the correct phrase these days."
“This is an incredibly exciting opportunity for Somerset, and we want it to benefit all of Somerset.”