May 14, 2005
September start date for £25million Highbridge redevelopment
Building work to convert the former Woodberry Bros and Haines site in Highbridge (pictured) into a £25 million shopping and residential complex is scheduled to begin in September.
Derek Mead, chairman of the Mead Group, the company behind the scheme, has set September 1 as the target for when the project will get underway at Springfield Road in Highbridge.
The scheme will see 98 houses, 17 apartments, 400 parking spaces and a 40,000sq ft supermarket being introduced.
By September, Mr Mead will know which supermarket will operate at the site – and development work will begin on a new roundabout at the junction of Springfield Road, Church Street and Burnham Road.
Mead’s plans for Somerset:
Derek Mead’s development plans for Somerset include:
A new regional agricultural centre next to the M5 near North Petherton. It has been unanimously backed by Sedgemoor District Council’s planning committee.
A new £1 million tourist attraction for North Somerset. It will be an open organic farm sited just off the M5 in Puxton, near Weston-super-Mare.
A huge £25 million shopping and residential complex on the former Woodberry Bros and Haines site in Highbridge.
“There has been overwhelming support for this project from the start from people in the town, who have watched their community gradually decline and decay over the years,” Mr Mead told the Burnham & Highbridge Times.
“Our view has always been that this was a one-off opportunity to provide a comprehensive, integrated and well thought-out redevelopment to give Highbridge back some civic pride and to end its days as the poor relation of Burnham.”
The dairy farmer overcame the final hurdle earlier in May when government officials announced they had no objection to the proposal.
The plans were also approved by Sedgemoor District Council after the size of the supermarket was reduced from 60,000sq ft and a petrol station and restaurant were removed.
RELATED LINKS:
Map showing the area to be developed
