Six new business units planned near Glastonbury supermarket
A large section of the former Morlands factory site remains unoccupied and fenced off to the public
A brownfield site near one of Glastonbury’s supermarkets could be transformed into six new business units if new plans are approved.
A large section of the former Morlands factory site, in the Beckery area of Glastonbury, remains unoccupied and fenced off to the public, with significant amounts of graffiti on the existing hoarding.
Rex Land (Glastonbury) 2 Ltd. has put forward plans to build half a dozen new business units on this site, located on Beckery New Road to the east of the town’s Aldi supermarket.
Somerset Council is expected to make a decision the proposals by the summer – meaning construction could begin before the end of the year if approval is granted.
The site lies within walking distance of the Baily’s Buildings, which are being regenerated into new commercial units for local small businesses as part of the £23.6m Glastonbury town deal.
If approved, the new units will be delivered in two phases, with two adjoining units being delivered in phase one at the western end of the site and the remaining four being built in phase two.
Two different access points onto Beckery New Road will be constructed, with a total of 54 car parking spaces being provided (including five disabled bays) along with a cycle shelter for storing bikes.
Existing trees within the eastern part of the site will be retained to provide a green buffer between the new units and the existing homes on Beckery Old Road.
A spokesperson for the Harris Partnership (representing the applicant) said: “The proposed scheme has been designed to respect residential amenity and a substantial landscaping and tree buffer will be retained along the western boundary of the site, which will also include further enhancement for improved screening.
“The site is easily accessible to all modes of transport and provides easy access within the site curtilage.
“The proposed re-development of the site will bring back into active economic use a vacant site, by providing a modern, high-quality development which will create job opportunities and provide further facilities for the local area.”
The applicant has not provided an estimate of how many new jobs will be created through the plans, since this will largely depend on which companies end up occupying the units.
The council is expected to make a decision on the proposals within the next few months.
It is not presently clear whether such a decision will be taken in public by its planning committee east (which handles major applications within the former Mendip area) or through the delegated powers of its planning officers.