A master-plan for various areas of the jointly-owned Northgate site in Bridgwater has been agreed.

The master-plan indicates to developers what joint owners Sedgemoor District and Somerset County Council, wish to see on the site.

The Councils’ are hoping to achieve the following:-

• High quality design and sustainability standards envisioned for the site

• New spaces and buildings to provide and encourage activity and sense of place

• Enhancement of the Brewery Fields to provide multi-use high quality green space

• Provision of enhanced links between the town centre and the docks (Celebration Mile)

• Sufficient and well located public car parking provision

• Access arrangements appropriate to the development proposed

• Viable and deliverable mixed use development including retail, leisure and residential

• New 420 place-primary school and 26 place nursery to be provided.

Now that the master-plan has been agreed, then a planning application for the entire site will be prepared to include a detailed application for a school and an outline application for the remaining uses.

Once a planning permission is obtained, the site will be marketed – hopefully in the first half of 2016.

The preferred scheme includes

• School Requirement – 420-place primary school and 26 space nursery and associated external spaces as per BB103 (this is a Department of Education regulations about space requirements). It is envisaged that the school will be open in Autumn 2017.

• Brewery Field – Enhanced landscaping and screen planting to include high quality play space (children’s play area) and full size playing pitch to be shared between school and public. Enhanced public realm including hard and soft landscaping and lighting with view to promoting key pedestrian link through Brewery Field on the ‘Celebration Mile’.

• 20,000 sqft food store with associated parking, access roads and landscaping

• Pub/ Hotel (Option 2)

• 60-Bed budget hotel

• Public House

• Associated parking, access roads & landscaping

 • 6 food and drink retail units at ground floor (beneath the Cinema)

 • 4 - 6 screen multiplex cinema and associated parking

Further detailed technical work on the master plan is required, once it is agreed in principle, including details of the vehicle access to the school and store/hotel/pub.

• Impact on trees subject to Tree Preservation orders.

• Boundary between school and Brewery Field.

• Phasing and required enabling works.

 The site is jointly owned by Somerset County Council (40%) and Sedgemoor District Council (60%).