Gravity Enterprise Zone
Gravity forms part of a multi-site Heart of the South West Enterprise Zone. This brownfield site located near Puriton just off Junction 23 of the M5 was once home to the Royal Ordnance Factory.
On 22 December 2021, the council agreed a Local Development Order for Gravity, subject to detailed technical work and signing of the Section 106 agreement.
To view the relevant documents please visit Gravity Local Development Order.
The Zone was allocated in the Autumn Statement in 2015 and formally activated in April 2017. It forms part of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership portfolio of Enterprise Zones: Gravity, Oceansgate, SkyPark, Exeter Science Park, Exeter Airport and Cranbrook town centre.
Gravity has been designated by the council as a strategic location for growth in the area. The Supplementary Planning Document for the site prepared in 2012 outlines likely sectors and end users to be located within the site. Subsequent planning permission obtained by the site owners in 2013 reinforces low carbon and energy generation aspiration for the site. In July 2020 the council decided to pursue a Local Development Order for the site to attract inward investment and align planning with the vision and ambition for the site.
Gravity is one of ten projects in the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership area awarded funding through Growth Deal. £3.94 million worth of funding, announced in February 2017, will be used to assist with the building of a new road which will improve access to the site.
Vision
Gravity will be an immersive, connected, intelligent and sustainable mixed-use campus, home to the World’s most innovative companies. Purpose built, diverse workspaces and resilient technologies will be set against an established natural landscape – supporting a culture of innovation and well-being that blurs the boundaries between work and play. Gravity will be designed to shape connections between people and the places they work for a cleaner, more sustainable future. For more information about the vision and latest news visit the This Is Gravity website.
Progress
On 11 June 2019 a groundbreaking ceremony took place to officially start the construction of the link road, which will connect the site to the M5 at Junction 23. Once the road is completed the development of the site will commence.
Alun Griffiths was appointed as Main Contractor for the delivery of the Link Road. The road construction has progressed well despite delays due to the national outbreak of coronavirus. The road opened in October 2021: Gravity Link Road.
Benefits
The Enterprise Zone status will provide a range of incentives to attract and support businesses that are setting up or growing on site, including simplified planning procedures.
Additional income from business rates generated on site over its lifetime will be reinvested locally to further support economic growth. This will help to improve the future success of the Zone and the wider area and will be achieved through the local authorities and key stakeholders working alongside partners such as the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership.
Partners
The Gravity Enterprise Zone is backed by the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership and Somerset Council.
Further information
What an Enterprise Zone means
Incentives an Enterprise Zone can offer to businesses
Gravity planning permission
Huntspill Energy Park
How the site will be marketed
Opportunities for local people and businesses
When the site will be fully developed
Clean Growth
