Firepool - final three developers selected

Project Taunton has announced the final three developers in the running for the regeneration of Firepool, the new commercial core of the town. They are:

• St Modwen
• Stanhope
• Terrace Hill

Ian Franklin, Project Director of Project Taunton, said: "The standard of submissions has been of exceptionally high quality. These final three developers were selected using a scoring mechanism covering three main criteria including sustainability - incorporating elements such as design and use of local labour - deliverability and financial considerations."

It is anticipated that the final developer will be appointed before Christmas with construction starting in 2008.

Firepool is the first area to be developed by Project Taunton. It will be an important commercial development for the South West, including high quality riverside office and residential developments built to exacting environmental standards. Project Taunton aspires to be the first commercially viable net zero carbon development in the UK .

Currently a brownfield site incorporating the livestock market, Firepool covers an area of 6.7 hectares, is adjacent to the mainline railway, fronts the River Tone and is just two miles from J25 of the M5.

Firepool will provide:

• 50,000 m² of office space
• 400 residential units supported by leisure and retail accommodation
• 3,500-4,000 jobs