The development of a 500-bed residential campus for employees of Somerset’s new £4 billion gigafactory has been paused, according to senior contractors involved in the project. The gigafactory, located within the Gravity enterprise zone between Puriton and Woolavington, is on track to begin operations by late 2027.
In December 2025, Councillor Mark Healey, whose Huntspill division includes the Gravity site, revealed that Agratas was keen to advance plans for a comprehensive campus opposite Sedgemoor Crematorium to alleviate pressure on Somerset’s tight rental market. This proposed campus would have featured restaurants, bars, a gym, conference facilities, and a Co-operative Food outlet, with an estimated cost of £17 million. The campus buildings were to be largely modular to expedite construction, similar to the method used for Bridgwater’s new diagnostic centre.
However, Agratas has since confirmed that this campus plan is not progressing. Instead, most of the workforce will be accommodated through the private rental market, extending beyond Somerset to cities such as Bristol and Exeter.
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During a Somerset Council Gravity executive sub-committee meeting in Taunton on March 19, Councillor Richard Wilkins raised questions about the status of the proposed campus. Nick Cooper, Agratas’ community engagement manager, explained that although discussions with a property developer took place, no concrete decisions or commitments have been made. The campus idea was primarily intended to house overseas employees involved in installing advanced equipment, but this may now change to follow arrangements similar to those for other staff.
Agratas aims to recruit around 500 employees by the end of this year and add another 750 by late 2027. At peak construction, Robert McAlpine — the contractor building ‘Building One’ — projects employing approximately 2,900 people on site. Of these, around 58% (1,693 workers) will require accommodation within commuting distance.
Rather than creating a dedicated campus, the workforce will be housed via hotels, private rentals, and short-term lets coordinated by a firm called Brief to Event. Robert McAlpine commissioned a review from Stantec to assess available private accommodations and hotels within a 45-minute commute, ensuring this strategy won’t disrupt local tourism or add to housing pressures caused by the ongoing Hinkley Point C construction.
Short-term lets will focus around Bridgwater, Puriton, and Woolavington, with additional accommodations sought in Axbridge, Cheddar, and west of Street. Private rentals will span the M5 corridor between Bristol and Exeter, including Taunton, Wellington, and Weston-super-Mare. Some workers will commute from as far as Castle Cary and Wincanton.
To mitigate traffic and environmental impacts, shuttle buses will run from strategic points such as Bridgwater railway station to the gigafactory. Enhanced cycle storage facilities will encourage staff to bike to work along the ‘purple route’ established in the Bridgwater local cycling and walking infrastructure plan (LCWIP).
Robert McAlpine’s programme director, Nick Jones, commented: “We’ve learned from challenges faced at Hinkley Point C. Although our workforce will be here for a shorter period, accommodating them responsibly is crucial. Brief to Event clusters workers in specific areas served by shuttle buses to ease transport and parking pressures. We’re also committed to preventing the fly-parking issues experienced at other sites.”
Local council leader Bill Revans expressed support for the accommodation approach, stating: “I’m pleased to see our officers rigorously overseeing this process. This gigafactory presents an incredible opportunity for Somerset, and we want the benefits to be felt across the county.”