Major plans for a new business centre in Highbridge have been approved by town councillors this week.
Burnham-On-Sea.com last month reported that the ‘enterprise centre’ had been earmarked for land next to Highbridge’s Isleport Recyling Centre and could create scores of new jobs.
The Town Council’s planning applications committee considered the scheme this week and approved the plans.
Cllr Peter Burridge-Clayton said: “We strongly support the application – it will provide new employment in the area.”
It is one of several regional projects being backed by Devon and Somerset’s Rural Growth Network which aims to create more than 1,300 jobs and boost the south west’s economy by £58 million.
The Highbridge proposal is to build a new two-storey building with office units available for new business ventures, plus an additional single-storey industrial building and car parking.
The area of the development site is approximately 1.29 acres. Around 220 square metres will be for light industrial space, plus 130 square metres for office space, and a further 130 square metres for business ‘incubation’ space.
Caroline Spelman, the government’s former Secretary of State for the Environment, visited the site in May 2012, as pictured here, when the scheme was initially discussed.
The planning application was recently formally submitted and is now set to be considered by the district council in coming weeks.
The project aims to help small ‘back room’ businesses gain office space in order to expand their operations and create local jobs.
“This is great news for Highbridge and demonstrates what an ideal location the town is for business,” said Cllr John Woodman.
