Bridgwater is set to benefit from new job opportunities as plans for additional industrial units near the M5 motorway have been approved. The Peninsula 23 Business Park, located between the River Parrett and the A38 Bristol Road near the Dunball roundabout, will see significant expansion in the coming months.
Currently, the business park houses Monmouth Scientific, a laboratory equipment manufacturer, and Willow Somerset, known for its willow furniture, log baskets, and luxury picnic hampers. In January 2025, Roselea Properties Ltd. submitted proposals for two new buildings situated just south of the existing premises.
Following Somerset Council’s £10.7 million upgrade to the Dunball roundabout, the development plans have received official approval, allowing construction to commence soon. The larger of the two buildings will be divided into five units, while the smaller structure will contain three units, adaptable for office or light industrial use. Together, these single-storey buildings will offer 45 car parking spaces and provide pedestrian and cyclist access via the shared-use pavement along Bristol Road.
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A spokesperson for Carney Sweeney Associates, representing Roselea Properties, highlighted the benefits of the project: job creation across both the development and its supply chains, enhanced on-site landscaping to support biodiversity, and a boost to the local economy through sustained investment in the commercial sector.
Peninsula 23 Business Park is a key commercial site within the Sedgemoor Local Plan, and its proximity to the motorway makes it strategically important in attracting investment, especially considering Bridgwater’s extensive housing growth. Additionally, the site is on the ‘purple route’ of Bridgwater’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP), which will eventually provide an uninterrupted link from the town centre to the new gigafactory being built at the Gravity enterprise zone between Puriton and Woolavington.
Although the exact number of new jobs to be created remains unspecified as tenants are yet to be identified, the plans were approved through delegated powers by Somerset Council’s planning officers. Planning officer G. Northern confirmed the scheme complies with policies, supports biodiversity goals, and incorporates strong sustainability and transport measures, with no objections from the highways team regarding access, safety, parking, or traffic impact.
This development marks a significant step forward in strengthening Bridgwater’s employment landscape and supporting sustained local economic growth.