MAJOR projects to regenerate Somerset’s town centres are moving forward despite the coronavirus.

All four district councils in Somerset have been working on proposals to redevelop key sites in their town centres, in order to improve the lot of local businesses, provide new facilities to residents and encourage more visitors.

The covid-19 pandemic has meant that some major infrastructure projects in the county have been postponed – such as the upgrade of the Creech Castle junction in Taunton.

Others – like the improvements to Junction 25 of the M5 – are continuing but at a slower pace as the workforce involved observes the government’s social distancing guidelines.

Here’s your guide to where things stand regarding major regeneration projects happening across Somerset right now…

Bridgwater – Northgate regeneration

Sedgemoor District Council published details of its vision for the Northgate site in Bridgwater back in October 2019.

Once completed, the site will be home to a new seven-screen cinema, a gym and restaurants, with the nearby Brewery Fields green space also being improved in the process.

The council’s executive committee was due to approve the funding for the scheme in May, with a view to construction beginning in the early summer.

But officers have now confirmed this decision has been delayed for two months – and the decision to delay it was taken before the coronavirus crisis took hold.”

A spokeswoman said: “This decision was originally due to be taken in May, but this was delayed before the crisis until July.”

Chard: Chard regeneration scheme

The £3M Chard regeneration scheme will deliver a new swimming pool and leisure centre in the town centre in its first phase, with new housing being provided further down the line.

Planning permission for phase one was granted by South Somerset District Council in September 2019, and the initial demolition work was completed before the coronavirus took hold.

Work was put on hold on March 27 to allow the team to assess the risk posed to those working on the project and on residents near the construction site.

But work on the new five-lane pool resumed on Tuesday (April 14), with the facility due to be open to the public by August 2021.

Councillor Jason Baker, portfolio holder for the regeneration scheme, said: “Our first priority is to the health and well-being of the people on site and in the communities in the surrounding areas.

“That’s why the highly skilled staff working on the build have undertaken a full assessment, and devised a plan that enables them to continue work and help deliver this wonderful facility for the residents of Chard and south Somerset.

“These construction works are a key part in the regeneration on Chard, including a new leisure facility, other community facilities and new public spaces that will encourage not only local communities but tourists to come to Chard.”

Frome: Saxonvale redevelopment

Mendip District Council is working with the Acorn Property Group to bring the challenging Saxonvale site in Frome back into use.

If the council gets its way, the site will eventually become the home of 300 houses, along with a range of cultural and commercial outlets and plenty of green space near the River Frome.

But unlike the Chard regeneration scheme, planning permission for the Saxonvale project has not yet been secured by the council – so we’re still some way off from spades going into the ground.

A spokeswoman said the timetable for securing planning permission was “currently being reviewed”.

She added:” As the project hasn’t reached the planning board stage, it has not materially been affected.

“Although the response to covid-19 has been prioritised, progression with the development is in the hands of the developer, who are continuing to work on it.”

Taunton: Coal Orchard and Firepool

Somerset’s county town is host to two separate regeneration schemes – and both of them have been a long time coming.

The Coal Orchard site, near the Brewhouse Theatre, is currently being redeveloped to provide apartments, retail, workspace, and restaurants.

Work got under way at the end of August 2019 following the earlier demolition of the former St James Street swimming pool, and is progressing on target.

Somerset West and Taunton Council published its masterplan for the Firepool site (which has been vacant since 2008) back in November 2019, setting targets for when each phase of the redevelopment would come forward.

The site will eventually contain a cinema, hotel, innovation centre and possibly a multi-purpose venue in addition to new housing.

Work on the site could start in the autumn of 2020, in spite of the coronavirus.

A spokeswoman said: “We are not currently making any changes to our projects and programmes.”

An update on the Firepool site will be discussed by the full council in confidential session on April 27.

Wincanton: Wincanton regeneration scheme

Proposals designed to regenerate Wincanton town centre are at a much earlier stage than those for Chard or Yeovil, and are therefore unlikely to be disrupted by the coronavirus.

South Somerset District Council carried out an initial consultation with residents in early-2019, identifying a number of sites for new housing or retail space within the town centre.

Those proposals will be refined in the coming months, following criticism by councillors in July that the efforts amounted to “a Trojan horse to introduce more development”.

A total of £2M has been set aside for Wincanton regeneration efforts, of which half will be spent in 2020/21 and the other half the following year, according to the council’s official accounts.

The council intends to use proceeds from the sale of its redundant office on Churchfields to pay for the some of the work.

It intended to generate more money by selling the adjoining Churchfields car park – but this was scrapped following a decision by the council’s area east committee in February.

Yeovil: Yeovil Refresh

South Somerset District Council has committed £2.5M towards improvements to Yeovil town centre under its Yeovil Refresh initiative.

On March 5, the council officially adopted the design guide for all the improvements it plans to make to the “public realm” (everything from shop fronts to artworks).

Further designs will come forward later this year, as will proposals surrounding the possible pedestrianisation of Middle Street, improvements to key town centre access routes, and a review of parking provision.

Councillor Peter Gubbins, portfolio holder for Yeovil Refresh, said on April 8: “This really is the next step for Yeovil and will help to assist with what we have planned for the town centre, and enable it to be a town centre that will be a vibrant place to live, work, shop, learn and visit.

“With the coronavirus outbreak, we will have a lot of work to do to entice people back to the town centres and to offer those businesses that currently operate the support they need.

“We have an excellent economic development team who can provide help and support, but by continuing with vital important projects such as Yeovil Refresh, we aim to show that we want to invest in the town centre to make it the best experience for all those that use the facilities now and in the future.”