Thread by @DanielMumby

There are a lot of different regeneration projects on the go in #Somerset at the moment (as I pointed out in last week's #LDReporter newsletter). And with updates for a couple of schemes on the horizon this week, here's a handy thread to help you keep track of what's going on :)

Here's a handy map - I'll zoom in on the relevant settlements as we go through each part, and I'll be going by parliamentary constituency from west to east. #LDReporter #Somerset #Watchet #Wellington #Taunton #Bridgwater #Chard #Yeovil #Glastonbury #Wincanton #Frome

Let's start in #Bridgwater and West #Somerset - we've got two settlements which have been targeted so far, one by private investment (#Watchet) and one by the @mhclg #townsfund (Bridgwater). #LDReporter

In #Watchet, we've got two different projects which both focus around the town's harbour and marina. Both come with the approval of @SWTCouncil, but both are privately-led and only one has any form of public funding. #LDReporter #Somerset

First there's #Watchet Marina, whose new owners @Marine_Group have pledged numerous upgrades to revitalise the local area: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset

And then right next door is the East Quay site, which is being regenerated by @OnionCollective to provide a gallery, restaurant, studios and holiday pods. Plans were approved back in 2018: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #Watchet

.@SWTCouncil (well, technically its predecessor, @wsomerset) agreed to loan @OnionCollective up to £1.5M in 2019 to ensure the project could go ahead: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #Watchet

.@SWTCouncil has also poured money into repairing the East Quay wall - but these are part of wider harbour repairs and are not related to the @OnionCollective work: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #Watchet

Moving to the other side of Ian Liddell-Grainger's constituency, there's #Bridgwater. Most of these projects are related to the #townsfund, though the #Northgate regeneration is very much @SedgemoorDC's baby. #LDReporter #Somerset

Let's start with the #Northgate site on Mount Street - approval was granted in 2020 for a new cinema, bowling alley, gym, bars and restaurants on this site in the town centre: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #Bridgwater

While the #Northgate development is primarily funded through @SedgemoorDC's capital budget, it did get £750,000 of "accelerator funding" from @mhclg through the #townsfund bid: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #Bridgwater

The #Northgate regeneration also includes improvements to the Brewery Field - with @SedgemoorDC's executive expected to vote tomorrow (July 14) to allocate further funding towards this aspect: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #Bridgwater

There's also a bit of a row as to whether it should be #Northgate or #NorthgateYard - let me know where you stand (or if you think it doesn't matter): somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #Bridgwater

Then there's the #townsfund projects, with @mhclg committing just over £23M on top of the £750k accelerator funding. Here's how it's going to be spent: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #Bridgwater

Here's a little more detail about each of the projects: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #townsfund #Bridgwater

Let's move onto the #Taunton Deane constituency (@pow_rebecca's seat). There are several projects in #Somerset's county town, and big plans for the #Tonedale area of #Wellington too :) #LDReporter #Somerset

Let's start with #Taunton, and three sites being driven forward by @SWTCouncil - #CoalOrchard, #Firepool and #Tangier. #LDReporter #Somerset

At #CoalOrchard (nr @BrewhouseLive) new flats, commercial space, restaurants, workspace & a piazza are being delivered by @SWTCouncil w/ support from the #futurehighstreetsfund. It's behind schedule (#coronavirus) but almost complete: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset

Things are less rosy downstream at #Firepool, which has lain vacant since 2008.

@SWTCouncil has published various iterations of the masterplan for the site, all of which include flats, commercial space, a hotel & a cinema: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #Taunton

Around £13.9M has come in from the #futurehighstreetsfund to support @SWTCouncil's efforts at #Firepool, #CoalOrchard and elsewhere - but the #DutchN ruling has really stymied down any tangible progress on the site: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #Taunton

Ongoing problems with phosphate levels (the subject of the #DutchN ruling) mean the planning process has been slowed, never mind the on-site mitigation needed on what is already a complicated, unwieldy site to redevelop: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #Taunton

And while the #futurehighstreetsfund money will pay for an outdoor amphitheatre, the promised multi-purpose venue remains in the balance: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #Taunton #Firepool

The only silver linings are at the northern end of the site, where @SomersetCouncil has approved a new digital innovation centre and @SWTCouncil is revamping the former @GWRHelp offices, with new cycle access from #Taunton station: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset

And then there's the #Tangier site - the former gasworks on Castle Street, which were originally going to be redeveloped by @gallifordtry: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #Taunton

.@SWTCouncil purchased the site in late-2020 - there are unconfirmed reports as to how much they paid for it, so I won't speculate here. It remains to be seen what will be developed here: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #Taunton

And then there's #Wellington - specifically the #Tonedale area of the town, with its historic woollen mills. #LDReporter #Somerset

.@SWTCouncil was awarded £348,000 by @HistoricEngland to help safeguard the #Toneworks site, and is now considering a bid to the government's #LevellingUpFund to enhance the whole site for community and leisure use: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #Wellington

There's a related effort to secure the Fox's Field site adjoining #Tonedale Mill for a community forest garden: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #Wellington #levellingupfund

Let's move on to the #Yeovil constituency (@MarcusFysh), where @Southsomersetdc is carrying out two regeneration schemes - the #YeovilRefresh and the #Chard regeneration scheme. #LDReporter #Somerset

The #YeovilRefresh comprises:
- Improving the appearance of the town centre
- Better transport links to & from shops
- Redeveloping vacant sites (privately owned)

My colleague @malloy_tomas has followed this closely: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #Yeovil

.@Southsomersetdc received £9.75M from the #futurehighstreetsfund for these projects - but the council clashed with @MarcusFysh over the funding during the #unitary poll saga: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #Yeovil #YeovilRefresh

.@MarcusFysh made some very colourful comments on Twitter (as appears to be his wont) about the former cattle market site, which like #Firepool has lain empty for many years: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #Yeovil #YeovilRefresh

Last week @Southsomersetdc agreed additional funding for the #YeovilRefresh - with the public realm elements running late and further consultation on transport links coming soon: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #Yeovil

Down in #Chard, things are a little further along. Again, there are multiple phases:
- Deliver a new swimming pool & leisure centre
- Redevelop Boden Mill & Holyrood Mill
- Revamp the high street with visual improvements and a programme of culture.

#LDReporter #Somerset

Unlike #YeovilRefresh, the #Chard regen scheme is entirely funded by @Southsomersetdc through its capital programme.

While the pool's construction has been delayed by the #coronavirus, it's still due to open in a few months: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset

The Boden Mill conversion will happen at a later stage, with commercial use planned for the ground floor and housing on the upper levels: somersetlive.co.uk/news/history/b… #LDReporter #Somerset #Chard

As for the public realm improvements... it's a bit of a mixed bag at the moment.

A new cultural programme has been promised after @HistoricEngland funding was secured through the High Street Heritage Action Zone initiative: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #Chard

There's also been consultation on improvements to Holyrood Street, with work on upgrading numerous junctions and adding more greenery on the high street due to begin soon: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #Chard

But like many regen projects across #Somerset, rising costs from #Brexit and the #coronavirus have proved an issue. This tiny "vanity project" near The Cerdic pub has seen its costs skyrocket: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Chard

.@Southsomersetdc voted last week to commit a further £412,500 to ensure all these projects could proceed and ensure the new pool can open on time: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #Chard

Moving on to the #Wells constituency (represented by @JSHeappey), we find #Somerset's second #townsfund recipient, #Glastonbury. #LDReporter

Like @SedgemoorDC with #Bridgwater, @MendipCouncil was given accelerator funding by @mhclg - to the tune of £500,000: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #townsfund #Glastonbury

.@mhclg subsequently awarded @MendipCouncil £23.6M from the #townsfund - and these are the projects that will be taken forward, with more details due later in the year: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #Glastonbury

Finally, there's @DJWarburton's constituency of #Somerton and #Frome, which is home to two different schemes by two different councils - the #Wincanton 'refresh' by @Southsomersetdc and the #Saxonvale regeneration by @MendipCouncil. #LDReporter #Somerset

The #Wincanton regeneration scheme is at a very early stage compared to @Southsomersetdc work in #Chard and #Yeovil - but what's proposed has already rubbed a number of people up the wrong way: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset

Much of the emphasis so far has been on events and bringing people into #Wincanton town centre for cultural reasons - hopefully there'll be more details before the year is out: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset

In #Frome, things are a little more advanced, with @MendipCouncil voting to approve @AcornPG's plans for #Saxonvale site in late-January: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset

.@MendipCouncil has invested more than £9.2M in the site (including purchasing it back in 2018), and has got around £4M from @HomesEngland to pay for enabling work to unlock the new homes and commercial development: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #Frome #Saxonvale

But that @HomesEngland money must be spent by the end of the year - so @MendipCouncil's cabinet voted last night (July 12) to grant a further £175,00 to the #Saxonvale scheme to speed up the planning process: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #Frome

This will come as little comfort to opponents of the #Saxonvale scheme in its current form, with concerns being raised last year about its overall viability and impact on @MendipCouncil's finances: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #Frome

And as a further spanner in the works, @MaydaySaxonvale has put forward an alternative vision for the site, with a planning application imminent. Hope to have more on this shortly: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #Saxonvale #Frome

There is also the prospect of #SheptonMallet and #Watchet being thrown into the regeneration mix if public funding become available in the coming years - but as of January, this remains merely an aspiration: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset

In short, there's a lot of regeneration work going on in #Somerset - some of it more popular than others, some a lot further along than others. Expect more updates in the weeks and months to come :) [END] #LDReporter