A substantial new campus designed to accommodate 1,000 workers at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station is planned near Somerset’s latest motorway services on the M5. This development addresses the anticipated peak construction workforce, expected to reach up to 15,000 people between 2026 and 2028.
NNB Generation Company (HPC) Ltd. recently secured planning approval to expand parking near Bridgwater and Albion Rugby Football Club, conveniently positioned within walking distance of an existing Hinkley park and ride facility. Building upon this, the company has revealed plans for a large new campus near junction 24 of the M5, close to services that Welcome Break intends to operate.
Currently, EDF Energy manages two dedicated campuses for Hinkley Point C staff: the Sedgemoor Campus along the A39 Bath Road and the Hinkley Campus beside the power station. Many workers also reside in various campsites and caravan parks, including Quantock Lakes near Nether Stowey and the Moorhouse Campsite in Holford.
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The proposed campus will be located at the eastern end of the private Notaro Way, south of Buttercup Nursery School and Lakeview Holiday Cottages, clearly visible from the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal towpath near Huntworth Lane bridge. It will feature two- and three-storey modular accommodation blocks similar to those found on the Bath Road campus, offering approximately 1,000 bed spaces.
Residents will benefit from communal welfare and recreational amenities such as a restaurant, kitchen, bar, shop, gym, and a multi-use games area. Additionally, office spaces and formal staff facilities will be included on-site. A dedicated bus pick-up and drop-off area near Notaro Way will connect residents to existing park and ride services, eliminating the need to cross the M5 or navigate the canal to reach the Huntworth Business Park facility.
The campus will provide parking for 700 cars, 200 bicycles, and 15 motorcycles. It is planned to be operational for up to five years, after which the land will be restored to its original state.
Stuart Houlet of PCL Planning, representing the applicant, stated, “The proposed development is not a major project of more than local importance, nor is it expected to have unusually complex or hazardous environmental effects. We believe its scale and nature will not lead to significant environmental impacts.”
Somerset Council is anticipated to decide on the screening request by late summer, with more detailed proposals likely to be submitted by Christmas if approval is granted. The council is also reviewing Welcome Break’s plans for the new services at junction 24, with a decision expected by the end of summer.