The term ‘regeneration’ has carried significant weight in Somerset over the past decade, reflecting extensive efforts to revitalize the county’s towns and improve quality of life. Hundreds of millions of pounds in government funding have been directed toward transforming town centres, repurposing historic buildings, and enhancing infrastructure to make Somerset a more attractive place to live and work.
While these ambitious projects have faced setbacks—such as delays with the Yeovil Refresh, slow progress at Taunton’s Firepool site, and contentious designs for Bridgwater’s Celebration Mile—2026 promises progress. Several key government-funded schemes are expected to move into active development, alongside major transport improvements.
These funds are strictly earmarked for regeneration activities and cannot be diverted to other council expenses, underscoring the commitment to these transformative projects. Here are five regeneration initiatives set to make a visible impact in Somerset over the next year:
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Northgate Docks, Bridgwater
At the northern end of Bridgwater town centre lies the Northgate Docks, where the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal terminates. Part of the Bridgwater Town Deal, this £5.2 million regeneration scheme aims to create 33 new residential and leisure moorings within the marina. The project also includes a new swing bridge to replace Newton Lock Bridge, dedicated cycling lanes connected to recently completed routes, and enhanced pedestrian crossings. Despite ongoing local concerns about details, planning permission is expected by late spring, with construction anticipated to start soon after. All Town Deal funds must be committed by March 31, 2027.
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Bridgwater Health and Social Care Academy
Benefiting from £19.7 million in Levelling Up Fund money, this project will transform the former community hospital on Salmon Parade into a cutting-edge training centre for health and social care professionals. With preliminary work already invested in a satellite site in Minehead, detailed plans were submitted in late October 2025. If planning approval is granted by spring, construction could begin in summer, carefully coordinated with other local developments such as the Celebration Mile redesign.
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Tonedale Mill and Tone Works, Wellington
Wellington secured nearly £20 million in Levelling Up Fund Round 3 to restore the historic Tonedale Mill and Tone Works, once key to Fox Brothers' textile empire. Despite their poor condition, no current planning applications have been submitted, as the project undergoes a formal review scheduled for April 2025. With £3.7 million earmarked for initial improvements, these works will be carefully developed to ensure purposeful use of public funds before the April 2027 Levelling Up deadline.
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Glovers Walk, Yeovil
Following extensive public realm enhancements in Yeovil town centre, the demolition of the outdated Glovers Walk shopping centre began in April 2025. Funded by £5 million from the Future High Streets Fund, the site is slated for mixed residential and commercial development. Plans include a new NHS health hub and potentially a hotel above the bus station. The council’s masterplan, open for consultation and due for approval in February 2026, has sparked debate over building on key car parks. Pending approval, formal planning applications are expected shortly, ushering in significant change for Yeovil’s heart. In the interim, the cleared site will become a green hub for community events and pop-up businesses.
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Octagon Theatre, Yeovil
The ambitious £30 million refurbishment of the Octagon Theatre was scaled back amid rising construction costs, now set at £15 million with support from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Yeovil Town Council. The theatre, closed but maintained at substantial cost, saw a revised planning application submitted in late 2025. Approval could enable construction to start in late summer or autumn 2026, reviving a landmark venue central to Yeovil’s cultural life.
These projects reflect Somerset Council’s strategic capital programme, to be detailed ahead of the annual budget setting on February 27, 2026. Each holds the promise of revitalizing communities, creating new opportunities, and improving the county’s urban fabric in the years ahead.