Taunton: The Change Begins

The official start of Taunton's much anticipated regeneration takes place this week as the Firepool area of the town is launched onto the open market. Creating a great place to live and work in Taunton, the site - which includes the Livestock Market and Priory Bridge Road car park - is expected to be an exemplar of sustainable development.

Alder King Property Consultants, acting on behalf of the Project Taunton team and Taunton Deane Borough Council, are inviting developers to submit expressions of interest in the 6.7 hectare site and it is anticipated that a developer will be appointed next year and construction is hoped to begin in 2008.

Marketed as ‘working and living at its best', the Firepool development is anticipated to result in more than 3,000 new jobs and 500 new homes for Taunton in addition to a sympathetic mix of restaurants, shops and cafes.

Unique in being the only major town in the South West to have substantial areas of undeveloped land adjacent to a mainline station, with riverside frontage and close town centre proximity, Firepool is the first phase of a three stage redevelopment. In its entirety the regeneration is expected to put Taunton at the heart of the region's business community whilst also creating an outstanding social and economic legacy.

The appointment of a development partner for Firepool is being managed by the team at Project Taunton who are tasked with ensuring a successful result for both business and people in Taunton.

Ian Franklin of Project Taunton explained: "Taunton has long been in the shadow of places such as Exeter and Bristol. However, the plans for the regeneration of Taunton position the town as the true heart of the region, both geographically and as a centre for thriving business.

"With direct access to the M5, under two hours to London by train and well within an hour of two international airports, Taunton is ready to lead the way for South West business in the 21^st century. The plans are ambitious and extensive yet, with large organisations already committing interest, development plans approved and land ownership secured, they are also entirely realistic and achievable," he continues.

"Throughout the planning stage and as the development begins, sustainability in every sense is a key priority - it is something we passionately believe in and are determined to achieve. For business, Taunton will deliver an infrastructure which enhances business performance whilst also minimising environmental impact. Developments will wherever possible look to use sustainable materials and always be of the highest quality to give long-term security and confidence.

"And for the people of Taunton, secure and stable employment is the main consideration along with the development of safe and vibrant communities. Buzzing new business opportunities will attract new people to the area but this will be carefully managed, always mindful of minimising commuting and maintaining a superb quality of life."

Recognised as a key social and economic development for the region, the regeneration of Taunton is promoted and supported by Taunton Deane Borough Council, the South West of England Regional Development Agency, Somerset County Council and the Environment Agency.

John Williams, leader of Taunton Deane Borough Council, said: "The regeneration of Taunton is unique in many aspects; there cannot be many towns of this size, with such a wonderful asset of large areas of land in need of regeneration over the plan period, being so strategically placed. This gives us the ability to attract a wide range of businesses that will improve the prosperity of Taunton Deane and allow us to address some of the inequalities that sadly exist in our areas of worst deprivation and that awful badge of being a "low wage economy".

He continues: "Fundamental to our regeneration plans is the need for high quality, sustainable development and through our ownership of some of the large sites this requirement will be embodied in any agreement with developers. Also we recognise the essential need for high quality public realm development and much improved leisure and culture facilities. In our development proposals we must address the needs of all, if we are to ensure the tremendous community support we have received to date is to continue."

Further information about the redevelopment of Firepool is available by contacting the Project Taunton team on 01823 250 809 or visiting www.firepooltaunton.co.uk.

Specific enquiries regarding development opportunities should go to Jay Ridsdale, Richard Williams or Chris Haworth at Alder King on 0117 317 1000.