After nearly three years of negotiations and design revisions, plans for new business units near the A303 in Somerset have finally received council approval. Brickcourt Ltd submitted their proposal in October 2023 to build eight new units at Cadbury Business Park, located off the A359 Cary Road in North Cadbury, just north of the A303 near Sparkford.
The developer engaged extensively with Somerset Council to address concerns, particularly around access arrangements, resulting in several updated designs. With planning officers now giving the green light, construction is expected to begin before the end of the year.
These new units will be situated in three blocks on the south-eastern edge of the business park, collectively offering over 3,100 square meters of employment space. The development will maintain the existing storage yard and loading areas, while incorporating new landscaping and an attenuation pond to mitigate environmental impact and reduce flood risk.
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The Cadbury Business Park is a key location for small and medium-sized enterprises serving North Cadbury and nearby areas, positioned conveniently on the main route between the A303 and Castle Cary. Although the exact number of new jobs this expansion will generate remains uncertain, it is anticipated to bolster the local economy.
Representatives from Boon Brown Architects, acting on behalf of Brickcourt Ltd, emphasized that the new buildings are designed to harmonize with the local landscape. They highlight that the project includes a variety of unit sizes, adequate parking, and extensive landscaping to minimize visual impact and integrate with both the existing and previously developed phases of the park.
Approval was granted through delegated powers of Somerset Council’s planning officers, bypassing the need for a public committee review. Senior planning officer Ian Cousins remarked on the alignment of the project with the North Cadbury and Yarlington Neighbourhood Plan, which designates the site for employment use. He also noted that the development supports the National Planning Policy Framework’s goals of fostering rural economic growth and sustainable new development.
Cousins concluded that filling the gap between existing commercial sites with appropriately scaled buildings will not harm the landscape character and will visually blend with the current built environment, avoiding the introduction of incongruous rural development.