Plans have been submitted to expand a Somerset campsite by adding 100 new pitches to provide accommodation for workers at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station. EDF Energy is adopting various strategies to house the growing workforce, which is expected to reach 15,000 by 2028.
Currently, many Hinkley Point C employees stay in caravans at Mill Farm Camping and Caravan Park, located off Watery Lane in Fiddington—situated between Bridgwater and the Quantock Hills. The operator of Hinkley Point C, NNB Generation Company (HPC) Ltd, has applied for permission to increase the campsite’s capacity by 100 pitches specifically for plant staff.
The site presently offers 443 touring pitches, with all but 52 available year-round. Workers have been accommodated here through the end of the current year, with extensions likely given the ongoing project timeline.
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The proposed new pitches would be located on agricultural land just east of the private access road to the campsite. Plans include a welfare building featuring showers and toilets centrally placed to serve the new area, along with a recreation zone in the southeast corner. Each new pitch, if approved, would be available to house Hinkley Point C employees until December 31, 2031.
A representative from PCL Planning, acting for the applicant, explained that this expansion will help ease the demand on local private rental housing by providing purpose-built accommodation close to the worksite. The site benefits from existing infrastructure, including bus services linking it to the project’s park and ride facility in nearby Cannington.
This development is anticipated to not only support Hinkley Point C’s workforce needs but also contribute to the long-term viability of the campsite as a tourism destination after the project’s completion.
The local rental market in Bridgwater is expected to face further strain as the new gigafactory is developed within the Gravity enterprise zone nearby, increasing the importance of dedicated worker housing solutions.
The campsite is conveniently located within walking distance of the A39 road between Bridgwater and Nether Stowey, with regular double-decker buses serving the site.
Somerset Council aims to reach a decision on the expansion proposals by early autumn. It remains uncertain whether the approval will be determined by the planning committee north or through delegated officer powers.