A NEW tapas or wine bar will be coming to Taunton as part of the redevelopment of the Coal Orchard site in the town centre.

Taunton Deane Borough Council approved plans to revamp the site in September, with the former St James swimming pool being demolished and several new homes, shops and restaurants being built on the waterfront.

The council has now teased further details of the development, including the kind of businesses that will be coming to the area, in a report published ahead of the full council meeting on Tuesday (December 11).

Officers will also work with the chosen contractor to ensure parking can be provided for local businesses while the work is carried out.

Councillor Mark Edwards said: “Our commercial agents have secured one pre–let on the scheme for a wine/ tapas bar.

“We have strong interest from a gym operator, who are currently seeking a franchisee to operate it prior to agreeing terms.

“We are progressing a marketing strategy for both the residential and commercial units in readiness for work commencing.

“Marketing of the commercial units is already underway but activity will increase from early next year.”

The council will be opening the tendering process for the scheme to contractors on Friday (December 7), with the chosen company being appointed by January 7, 2019.

Work on constructing the new homes and retail units will begin on February 4, and will be carried out in five phases with a view to the entire scheme being completed by early-September 2020.

The ‘show flat’ (giving an idea of what the dwellings will look like) will be marketed off-plan from June 2019, and will be ready for physical viewings by the end of September 2019.

Mr Edwards said he would be working with the appointed contractor to ensure parking needs could be met during the construction process.

He said: “Twenty-five car spaces are due to be completed in phase one of the contract by March 31, 2019.

“However, we will seek to avoid a complete closure of the car park from the beginning of February until these spaces are ready by working with the contractor to provide some spaces on site or close by, to assist with parking for the local businesses.”