Somerset Council has revealed that a potential investor has expressed serious interest in the Nexus 25 development site located near junction 25 of the M5 motorway on the eastern edge of Taunton. The site benefits from a local development order (LDO), designed to simplify planning procedures and accelerate progress.
Originally unlocked through a £19.2 million upgrade of junction 25, including a new roundabout adjacent to the Gateway park and ride, Nexus 25 has remained undeveloped since the improvements were completed in early 2021. Meanwhile, neighboring employment areas such as Westpark 26 in Wellington and the Gravity enterprise zone near Bridgwater have seen steady growth.
During a recent audit committee meeting, Councillor Norman Cavill (Conservative, Monkton and North Curry) expressed concerns about the lack of development at Nexus 25, highlighting a local business actively seeking units in the area without success. He emphasized the opportunity the site presents, given the significant public investment in access infrastructure.
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Paul Hickson, Somerset Council’s Service Director for Economic Development, Skills and Climate, confirmed the council is in early-stage discussions with an investor interested in the site. While details remain confidential, Hickson assured that the council is proactively engaging to facilitate development.
Nexus 25 is envisioned as a green campus aligned with Taunton’s garden town vision, offering diverse commercial premises for light industry, research and development, distribution warehouses, office spaces, and potentially amenities such as a hotel and medical centre. Development plans also include enhanced active travel links to the town centre, including a prospective footbridge over the M5 connecting to the Blackbrook Park commercial district.
The project is being advanced by HBD (formerly Henry Boot Developments) in partnership with local developer Summerfield Developments, creators of Westpark 26 and Killams Park housing. The site’s planned scale is ambitious, promising one million square feet of employment space and the creation of up to 3,000 jobs.
HBD’s website highlights Nexus 25’s prime location along major transport corridors and the flexibility allowed under the LDO to respond to market demands, aiming to create a dynamic working environment focused on employee well-being.
Earlier plans by National Highways to upgrade the Nexus 25 roundabout into a signal-controlled crossroads as part of the £328 million A358 dual carriageway project were cancelled in November 2024. In response, the council is investigating smaller-scale improvements to traffic flow and air quality enhancement in the area.