Residents, businesses and other interested parties are being invited to have their say on the draft Local Development Order (LDO) proposed by Taunton Deane Borough Council which will grant planning permission for the Nexus 25 strategic employment development at Junction 25 of the M5.
The statutory consultation follows the exhibition and informal consultation that took place earlier this year.
Nexus 25 is part of a range of plans, outlined in the Taunton Growth Prospectus, to create substantial numbers of new and skilled jobs and to support Taunton’s economic development up to 2028. The provision of a new strategic employment site to serve the area is part of the adopted Taunton Deane Core Strategy’s proposals.
The LDO sets out the type of development to be permitted through the Order and the requirements which developers must meet in order to satisfy its conditions. It will be accompanied by a Statement of Reasons which also forms part of the consultation and a full Environmental Statement.
Nexus 25 will be created as a ‘green campus.’ Space for research and development and high quality offices, alongside light industrial units and warehouses will provide a range of flexible premises suitable for a wide range of business.
Walkways and landscaping, including tree planting, will create an environment in line with Taunton’s new Garden Town status.
Cllr Mark Edwards, Deputy Leader of Taunton Deane Borough Council and Executive member for Business Development said: “The Nexus 25 development represents a very significant opportunity to bring new business and investment to Taunton in an environment that supports innovation and growth.
“The site’s excellent location will mean it can attract the uses and high quality jobs which are essential to the future economic health of Taunton, the wider Borough and its contribution to the South West’s economy.”
The Draft LDO and its accompanying documents have been prepared by Peter Brett Associates and LHC on behalf of Taunton Deane Borough Council. The documents set out the planning and design principles and other site-specific requirements which it is intended will guide the development of the site.
LDOs were introduced by the Government to enable local planning authorities to speed up the implementation of planned development, while ensuring that all the usual environmental safeguards are applied. Once approved by the Council, the LDO will set out the extent and nature of the proposed development together with all the criteria and requirements that proposals must meet to satisfy the terms of the Order. Developers must demonstrate to the Council that their proposals satisfy the requirements of the LDO before they can proceed.
The plan has been carefully designed to harness green infrastructure and sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDs) to manage surface water run-off through the use of features such as landscaped ponds.
The 25 hectare site is about 2.5 miles from Taunton’s town centre, lying to the south east of Junction 25. The planning application for the work to improve Junction 25 is currently being considered by Somerset County Council and the proposed scheme will provide the access to the site. There will be Park and Ride services as well as pedestrian and cycle links to the town centre to encourage more people to use different forms of transport.
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