Plans to create up to 1,300 jobs in the West of England took a step forward today (Friday 26 July 2024) as the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority Committee approved £9m of funding to deliver the Somer Valley Enterprise Zone.
The site, located to the west of Midsomer Norton on the A362, will provide a sustainable and attracting location for new businesses and companies looking to scale up.
Mayor Dan Norris welcomed the decision to invest, saying: “Bringing jobs and businesses into the West of England is a high priority. We need the highest quality infrastructure to attract investment to our region and this is what the Somer Valley Enterprise Zone will deliver.
“The companies that move there will bring hundreds of jobs into the local economy, bringing opportunity for local people, close to home.”
With 36,000 square metres of commercial space, new roads with cycleways and footpaths, and water drainage infrastructure, the Enterprise Zone represents a highly significant investment in the Somer Valley area.
The £9m of funding will be used by Bath & North East Somerset Council to develop a full Business Case by September 2025 and is expected to deliver a very high return on investment once the project is completed.
