Introduction
The council worked with public and private sector partners on a new strategic employment site – Nexus 25 – at J25 of the M5 motorway.
The council used a planning mechanism to fast-track the process – a Local Development Order.
This was adopted in March 2018 after Somerset Council approved a scheme to improve J25 including access to Nexus 25.
The development will provide a green campus setting with space for a variety of uses including research and development and high-quality offices, alongside light industrial units and warehouses providing a range of flexible premises suitable for many types of business. More than 3,500 jobs could be created at the site, boosting Taunton’s role as a major growth centre in the South West.
Local Development Order documents
- Adoption of the Nexus 25 Local Development Order (PDF 279KB)
- LDO Secretary of State submission covering letter dated 22 March 2018 (PDF 84.5KB)
- The adopted Nexus 25 Taunton, local development order, including the Council’s statement of reasons (PDF 1.15MB)
- Design guide (PDF 6.6MB)
- Transport appraisal report part 1 (PDF 7.72MB)
- Transport appraisal report part 2 (PDF 4.73MB)
- Framework travel plan (PDF 6.84MB)
- Environmental statement, volume 1 – main report (PDF 2.35MB)
- Environmental statement volume 2 – appendices part 1 (PDF 20.1MB)
- Environmental statement volume 2 – appendices part 2 (PDF 13.9MB)
- Environmental statement volume 2 – appendices part 3 (PDF 10.4MB)
- Environmental statement volume 2 – appendices part 4 (PDF 28.7MB)
- Environmental statement volume 2 – appendices part 5 (PDF 23.3MB)
Compliance with Condition 1 (Planning Policy Review) of the Local Development Order (LDO)
Condition 1 of the Local Development Order (LDO) seeks to ensure that the Local Planning Authority (LPA) reviews progress on the 5th anniversary of its adoption to be able to fully reflect on the continued suitability of the LDO in the light of any changes to planning policy.
A report was presented to the Planning and Transport Policy Sub-Committee on 23 May 2024 to complete the review and ensure compliance with Condition 1 of the LDO.
It was also proposed that the wording of Condition 1 was also amended to address some minor typographical errors and insert an additional review period (second review) in order that the regeneration benefits of the LDO can be secured.
It was resolved that the Planning and Transport Policy Sub-Committee agreed to retain the LDO as it stood, in accordance with Condition 1 (a) of the LDO, subject to the additional text being inserted into Condition 1.
The revised wording can be found in the minutes for the meeting that were approved by the Planning and Transport Policy Sub-Committee on 27 June 2024.