Long-awaited efforts to improve the economy of the Midsomer Norton area have been given a double boost.
High-quality, flexible workspace for expanding local firms is to be available at the former Great Mills head office at Old Mills, pictured, following the appointment of Business West, the region’s largest business organisation, as manager.
And the West of England Joint Committee is paying £50,000 to appoint a project manager and prepare a commercial business plan for the Somer Valley Enterprise Zone – a 13.5-hectare greenfield site at Old Mills, on the A362 between Midsomer Norton and Paulton.
The site was awarded Enterprise Zone status last April by the government following a successful application by Bath & North East Somerset Council (B&NES), which is already investing £343,000 in the job-creation project.
Business West is to develop more than 23,000 sq ft of flexible workspace in the former Great Mills building, now known as Paulton House.
At one time home to 450 jobs, it is now the base for Jane Clayton and Co – the region’s largest interior designers employing 70 people – and a diverse community of local businesses.
As well as office space, meeting rooms and hot-desk facilities, Business West will run a full programme of business support to help local businesses scale-up and grow as part of the Somer Valley Enterprise Park project.
Business West believes this will be welcomed by local businesses seeking to avoid the commute to Bath or Bristol.
Business West commercial director James Monk said: “Business West has been one of the pioneering enterprise agencies offering ‘easy-in, easy-out’ flexible licence agreements for start-up and small businesses since 1987.
“We are delighted to add Paulton House to our thriving workspace portfolio. This is a great opportunity for the local business community to benefit from the business support available from BW.”
Speaking about the investment in the Enterprise Zone, B&NES cabinet member for economic and community regeneration Cllr Paul Myers said: “There is an urgent need to promote employment and create job opportunities in the Somer Valley and this investment will help deliver this and support local economic growth.
“We have already appointed a project manager to oversee the scheme and welcome this funding from the West of England Joint Committee alongside money we have also secured for improvements on the A362.”
Once complete, the scheme will provide up to 54,000 sq m of commercial space creating 1,700 jobs.
Development work will be phased, with the first stage of construction planned to begin this year. Highway improvements and enabling works for future phases will follow and by 2020 some 7,000 sq m of employment space is expected to have been built and the first phase complete by 2021.
The development will co-ordinate with work to bring forward improvements to the A362, which serves the Old Mills site and is being funded by £280,000 from the West of England Combined Authority.
Enterprise Zones encourage business growth and new jobs by providing tax breaks and government support – a business that moves to the Somer Valley Enterprise Zone may be eligible for 100% business rates relief and will be able to access super-fast broadband.
For more information about the Bath and Somer Valley Enterprise Zone, including business rates relief visit www.investinbath.co.uk/EZ
or e-mail info@investinbath.co.uk
For further information on Paulton House, call 01761 411 800, email paultonhouse@businesswest.co.uk or visit www.businesswest.co.uk/paultonhouse
The West of England Joint Committee is the decision-making body for issues relating to the West of England Combined Authority – which includes Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire councils – and the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
