PEOPLE and businesses can view proposals for a multi-million pound business park on the outskirts of Taunton.

The 62-acre strategic employment site in fields beside Junction 25 of the M5 could include space for research and development and high-quality offices alongside light industrial units and warehouses.

It would provide a range of flexible premises suitable for many types of businesses and could create thousands of skilled jobs.

A public exhibition is being held at the nearby Holiday Inn next Wednesday from 4pm to 8pm, when representatives from the project team will be on hand to answer questions.

The 'green campus' scheme is part of a range of plans in the Taunton Growth Prospectus supporting the town's economic development up to 2028.

Footpaths and landscaping including tree planting will create an environment in line with Taunton’s new garden town status.

Cllr Mark Edwards, Taunton Deane Borough Council portfolio holder for business development, said: “Junction 25 is ideally positioned to create a well-connected strategic employment site in the region, enabling the high quality jobs so crucial for Taunton and the South West’s future growth.

“The development represents a significant opportunity to bring new business and investment to Taunton in a unique environment that supports innovation and growth.”

Taunton Deane has commissioned Peter Brett Associates to prepare a local development order to set out the planning and design principles and other site-specific requirements to guide development of the site.

The designs will include green infrastructure and sustainable urban drainage systems to manage surface water run-off through the use of features such as landscaped ponds.

Planned work to improve J25 and the A358 being undertaken by Somerset County Council and Highways England will include access to the site.

Nigel Hounslow, director from scheme developers Summerfield, said: “J25 has been selected by Taunton Deane as a strategic employment site due to its location.

"Good connectivity is vital to business, so J25 will provide gigabit fibre access throughout the site to ensure that occupiers have the latest digital links possible.”

Cllr David Hall, the county's cabinet member for business, inward investment and policy, said: “This is a huge step forward in unlocking further economic opportunities in Taunton, Somerset and beyond.

"We are working closely with Taunton Deane and partners to improve transport links and encourage inward investment, putting Somerset firmly on the map."

Key project partners include the Deane, the county, Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, Highways England, the Environment Agency, Summerfield and Henry Boot Developments.