The development of Bridgwater’s new health and social care academy faces potential delays unless bat mitigation measures are implemented on site by the end of October. The project, funded by a £19.7 million grant from the levelling up fund awarded by the former Conservative government in January 2023, aims to create a state-of-the-art facility at the site of the former community hospital on Salmon Parade, as well as a satellite centre in Minehead.
Since the award, efforts have primarily concentrated on establishing the Minehead site near the town’s new police station on Stephenson Road, alongside design and remedial work at the Bridgwater location. This has been carefully coordinated alongside other ongoing regeneration projects in the area.
In May, Somerset Council formally agreed heads of terms for the academy project with local NHS officials, paving the way for construction to commence pending planning permission. The goal is to complete the new health academy by spring 2028.
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However, the project’s progress now hinges on securing approval for plans to convert part of the former gatehouse-situated at the site’s south-west corner adjacent to the proposed new access and car park-into a dedicated bat mitigation building. This mitigation is crucial to protect the bat population and must be in place by 31 October to comply with licensing requirements.
The Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is expected to deliver up to 3,000 training sessions annually through the academy, utilising approximately 3,000 square metres of space across three floors. Facilities will include a variety of training rooms, offices, and outdoor training areas.
Additionally, the site will host an early years centre and an independent living centre. The independent living centre will offer support and technology to enable people to live in their own homes for longer, reducing the need for nursing home placements.
A spokesperson for Avalon Planning and Heritage, representing Somerset Council, reported that constructive discussions are underway with Historic England and the Environment Agency concerning potential additional funding needed to advance the project. They highlighted the deteriorating condition of the main listed building over the past year, noting issues such as water ingress during a particularly wet winter causing damage to timber joists, lath and plaster ceilings, and floors.
To maintain momentum and meet the tight deadlines set by the levelling up fund grant, the council must secure a bat licence from Natural England and relocate the bats during the current active season, which concludes on 31 October. The application for change of use of the former gatehouse is being submitted in advance of amended plans for the wider regeneration scheme.
Following an extension by the current Labour government, all levelling up fund grants must be committed and under contract by 31 March 2027, with full expenditure required by 30 April 2028. Any unspent funds will need to be returned to the Treasury.
Somerset Council is expected to consider and approve both the bat mitigation plan and the amended wider regeneration proposals in the coming weeks. Given the scale and significance of the development-and the council being the applicant-it is anticipated that these plans will be reviewed by the council’s planning committee north, responsible for major applications in the former Mendip area, rather than being delegated to planning officers.