Health, wellbeing and community take centre stage at Somerset’s new £150m business park

Health, wellbeing and community will be at the heart of the £150 million business park which is taking shape beside the M5 in Somerset, according to the scheme’s commercial property agent.

The 100-acre Bridgwater Gateway scheme is the newest business park development on the M5 corridor. The first phase of the mixed-use scheme will feature a range of new office and commercial buildings, together with a four-star hotel with conference facilities and a Premier Inn, which is already under construction.

Bridgwater Gateway is adjacent to junction 24 of the M5 and only 12 miles from the site of Hinkley Point C, in an area in which the local economy is expected to grow by 45 per cent by 2030.

Occupiers will enjoy access to vehicle charging points, regular bus services, cycle storage and a nearby cycle route. All offices will have showers installed and there will be an on-site childcare nursery. Meanwhile there will be ample opportunity to stay active, with a trim trail, picnic area and table tennis and boules areas being planned.

James Preece, Director in the National Offices team at Colliers International, said: “Increasingly, occupiers are putting health and wellbeing at the top of their priority list and these issues certainly have a central place in the Bridgwater Gateway master plan.

“Creating a sense of community is key and there will be an app which will allow occupiers to collaborate with each other not only socially, but also over initiatives like lift sharing.

“All the infrastructure is already in place and Bridgwater Gateway is ready to welcome pre-lets.”

Phil Wade, Development Manager for Bridgwater Gateway, said: “We have a beautiful landscaped site which enjoys views towards the Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and which provides all the practical needs and facilities of a business park, but in a setting that allows harmony and an increased diversity in the environment.

“We believe community has as much relevance in the workplace as at home. We have invested considerably in understanding the ecology and archaeology of our site but also want to understand the nature of the businesses that join us and their teams, in order that we can work together to create a thriving community.”