Somerset Council has revealed that a potential investor has expressed “serious interest” in the Nexus 25 development site located on the eastern edge of Taunton, near junction 25 of the M5 motorway.
The Nexus 25 site benefits from a local development order (LDO), designed to simplify planning approval and facilitate rapid development. This strategic site was unlocked following a £19.2 million upgrade to junction 25, which included a new roundabout near the Gateway park and ride facility.
Despite the infrastructure improvements completed in early 2021, construction has yet to begin at Nexus 25. Meanwhile, nearby employment zones such as Westpark 26 in Wellington and the Gravity enterprise zone near Bridgwater have continued to grow steadily.
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At a recent Somerset Council audit committee meeting on December 22, Councillor Norman Cavill raised concerns about the site’s lack of progress, noting the county council’s significant investment to improve site access and querying current promotional efforts.
In response, Paul Hickson, the council’s service director for economic development, confirmed ongoing discussions with an interested investor. While emphasizing that talks remain at a very early stage and details cannot yet be disclosed, he underscored the council’s commitment to proactive engagement and support.
The Nexus 25 development, envisioned as a ‘green campus’ aligned with Taunton’s garden town ambitions, aims to host a variety of commercial enterprises, including light industry, research and development, distribution warehouses, office spaces, and potentially amenities such as a hotel and medical centre. Consistent with the local cycling and walking infrastructure plan, any future development plans include improved active travel links, possibly featuring a new footbridge over the M5 connecting the site to the Blackbrook Park commercial area.
Originally, the project was to be led by HBD (formerly Henry Boot Developments) in partnership with local firm Summerfield Developments, known for their work on the Westpark 26 employment site and Killams Park housing development. As of December 23, the project remains listed on HBD’s website as “in development,” with plans to deliver up to one million square feet of employment space and create around 3,000 jobs.
The website highlights the site’s prime location along the M4 and M5 corridors, emphasizing the flexibility offered by the LDO and the project’s focus on well-being and a vibrant working environment.
Earlier infrastructure plans by National Highways to replace the Nexus 25 roundabout with a signal-controlled crossroads, as part of a £328 million dualling of the A358 between Taunton and Ilminster, were cancelled in November 2024. Instead, the council is now considering smaller-scale improvements to enhance traffic flow and air quality in the area.