What is being built?
We are building campuses in Bridgwater and at the Hinkley Point C site to accommodate workers who move to the area. The Bridgwater campus is the largest of these developments. The site is located on part of a former plastics factory to the north of the A39 (Bath Road).
The campus will provide living space and recreational facilities for 850 workers within 25 separate accommodation buildings. The campus is designed with an amenity building which includes a canteen, laundry and gym. One full size and two 5-a-side pitches will also be available on the site for use by our workers and members of the public at certain times.
When will it be finished?
We are confident the campus will be operational in 2018 and we expect it to be operational for about six and a half years. When we no longer need the temporary accommodation the site will most likely be developed for permanent housing. After being used for Hinkley Point C, the buildings will be removed but key infrastructure will be maintained for future development. We’ve been working closely with Sedgemoor District Council and the infrastructure we’re developing fits well with their long term plans for Bridgwater.
Why are you housing workers in Bridgwater?
Some staff have already moved permanently to the area, or commute in. Others already rent locally, and about 500 will live on the campus we’re also building on the Hinkley Point C Site. The campus in Bridgwater will temporarily host almost 1000 workers.
Why have you removed the plans for accommodation at Bridgwater and Taunton College?
Our plans have evolved and it’s more efficient if we have a single accommodation campus in Bridgwater. The Planning Inspectorate authorized this change in autumn 2017. Hinkley Point C will provide vital low carbon electricity for a generation, require 900 permanent job opportunities for its planned 60 years of operation, generate £4 billion of investment into the south west economy and leave a lasting legacy of increased skills employment opportunities more widely. Bridgwater itself is receiving a very sizeable benefit, which includes huge investment that’s explained well here.
Aren’t the workers going to cause problems?
We don’t expect them to, they will be working hard and will need to relax and wind-down when they are not working. There will be comprehensive facilities for the workers including sports pitches and welfare facilities.
All our workers will have signed up to our code-of conduct and we expect them to comply with this. If they don’t we’ll take action. We have also developed comprehensive plans to support our workers and neighbouring communities to ensure there is successful integration. The Police have additional resource and Sedgemoor District Council have been funded to have an extensive package of community support. You can find out more by contacting Kristy Blackwell at the Together Team on 01278 435216.
Is the site contaminated?
Not anymore. It used to be when the site was formerly a factory, but has been extensively cleaned up by specialist contractors. The Environment Agency and Environmental Health Officers have full visibility of what contamination was removed. If any remedial contamination is identified during the build it will be properly managed.
What else have you done in the area?
We’ve already invested over £1million in sports facilities in the area, we’ve built two great new replacement football pitches, helped fund a club house and are working closely with local schools and Bridgwater and Taunton College. We will operate the campus sensitively, and plan to enable residents to use the sports pitches when our workers are not using them.
We will share more on how we will operate the campus when our plans are fully developed. If you have any suggestions we’d love to hear them.
There is also a multi-million community fund that community groups can apply to. More information is available at westsomersetonline.gov.uk/cim
What are you doing with all the other land you own nearby?
We’re responsibly managing the land we’ve acquired, including, Sydenham Manor, the listed building we own. It’s probable that land not required for the Hinkley Point C temporary campus will be sold for residential and commercial development, and we’ll continue to work with the Council to align with their long term plans where possible for this area. Our core business is producing low carbon electricity.
Is my property being structurally affected by the work being carried out at Sedgemoor Campus or on Bath Road?
1. Works from remediation of the old Innovia site
EDF Energy took ownership and responsibility for the land in July 2014 after remediation of the site was complete and therefore cannot comment on any vibration whilst the works were undertaken. Innovia films owned the site before us.
2. Piling activity during the construction of the Sedgemoor Campus
In line with good practice, surveys of the closest houses (Jubilee Terrace) were undertaken prior to the piling works commencing, and vibration monitoring was carried out during the works.
To reduce vibration a small piling rig was selected to be used and the monitoring results prove that vibration from site activities was low. British Standards for vibration (BS 5228 Part 4 and BS 73852) establish that these levels of vibration could not cause cosmetic damage to nearby houses, even if they had significant pre-existing defects. At the request of residents, two additional properties on the Bath Road were recently surveyed.
With monitoring results confirming low levels of vibration and nothing evidenced in the surveys that would not be expected in properties of the age/condition in question, our engineers have concluded that nearby properties have not been affected by construction activities from the Sedgemoor Campus.
3. Works on the A39 and grass verge
The works being carried out on the A39 and grass verge cause no more vibration than that generated by a lorry travelling on the A39. It should be noted that vibrations from adjacent works or the busy road will be felt (as explained in BS 73852), however feeling vibrations does not equate to damage being caused to properties.
We are confident that the works being conducted on the A39 are not causing unusual levels of vibration, but vibration monitoring has been initiated and will continue during the remainder of the works to help provide evidence and reassurance.
Will access to my property be maintained during the work being carried out on Bath Road and the grass verge?
Yes - the site construction team will liaise with you to maintain access and egress to your property. The fencing currently situated on the grass verge adjacent to Bath Road is there for the safety of the workers, pedestrians and all road users. This fencing has to remain in place for the duration of the works. Occasionally, fencing maybe extended onto the inner Bath Road. We will remove the fencing as soon as possible on completion of the works.
Why have the works slowed or stopped (5 Apr 18)?
Additional, uncharted cables have been discovered under the grass verge opposite the campus. The design has been altered and approved to accommodate these important services, and work will now progress as swiftly as possible.
Will we receive any compensation for the inconvenience that the works on Bath Road and the grass verge have caused?
We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience that these works have caused. There are a number of ways in which this inconvenience is addressed:
1. If you feel your property has reduced in value as a direct result of the works being carried out, there are legal protections available to you. You should seek independent legal advice on this matter.
2. Community Funds totalling £20 million have been established to mitigate the impact of the HPC project on the local community. Please visit hpcfunds.co.uk to understand how these funds can benefit your area. It is important to note that individuals cannot bid for money but this will need to be done by an established community group, local authority or charity.
3. Funds have already been granted to support the Sydenham Together project and to enhance Coronation Park.
4. HOST, the local company which will operate the Campus accommodation, will provide time slots during which the community is able to use the multipurpose sports pitches on the Campus site at a reduced fee. Details of this will be announced on the opening of the Campus later this year.
5. HOST will also be recruiting local residents to work as an integral part of the team to manage and operate the campus. There will be training and career opportunities as part of this.
6. We will of course ensure the grass verge is, as far as possible, restored at the end of the main construction process in line with the approved scheme.
What measures will be put in place for Knowle Road with the increase in traffic?
It is acknowledged that as a result of the closure of the junction of Frederick Road with Bath Road that local travel patterns may alter but we don’t expect the volume of traffic on surrounding roads to be high once travel patterns settle down. Monitoring was carried out prior to the works being undertaken and the extent of the impacts of the development on the local network will be reviewed by EDF Energy and Somerset County Council post completion.
Why is there no permanent signage on the junction with Frederick Road and Parkway outlining the closure?
A sign has been erected at the junction of Frederick Road and Parkway; currently it reads ‘Bath Road closed’. This is a temporary arrangement in order to deter drivers from attempting to access Bath Road, as the original sign that had been put up was stolen. A new sign is currently being produced and will be erected soon.
The construction team will be checking daily to make sure the sign is still correctly situated as interfering with road signs is an offence. Consideration will be given to adding a permanent sign to this junction to explain the new road layout once the scheme is complete.
Will the development affect the flood risk in the area?
The new drainage plan, which has been designed with and approved by the relevant authorities, will reduce the flood risk to the area.
The drainage arrangements are split into two areas: A. the area of the new campus, and B. the area of the new roadways
A. The area of the campus largely extends over the former Innovia site which had a significant amount of impermeable landscaping draining. The campus drainage has been designed to link in with the drainage masterplan for the area and catch storm water hitting impermeable surfaces such as roads and roofs and allowing it to drain into a new rhyne. This rhyne is 800m long and extends nearly half the circumference of the site. This new storage rhyne will be pumped out to the wider rhyne network.
B. The drainage system that has been approved for the roadways employs a 40m long storage tank and a flow control devise, storing and slowly letting water into the combined sewer in the Bath Road.
A number of trees have been removed from the area – will these be replaced? What level of screening will be provided?
A total of 21 semi-mature trees are proposed to be replanted along the grass verge, though the precise details of the landscaping plan have yet to be agreed. Additional landscape screening will be provided in the form of an elevated bund on the edge of the campus build. These plans will need to be submitted to Sedgemoor District Council for approval in due course. A provisional draft plan for the replanting can be found here for information. If you have any immediate comments or observations, please feedback to us.
Have your works restricted emergency services getting to my property?
No - the width of the inner Bath Road meets the legal requirement for emergency vehicles, such as ambulances and fire engines, meaning access to your property is not affected.
Cars are crossing the footpath illegally to access the inner Bath Road - what will you do to stop this happening?
Cones have been put in place to deter road users from performing this illegal activity. There are no plans to install any permanent barrier in this area. Should the illegal manoeuvring persist post completion of the scheme, contact should be made with the Police.
Is the air quality outside my property monitored throughout these works?
We can confirm that Sedgemoor District Council’s Environmental Health team have 2 diffusion tubes placed in the vicinity of the works. One that backs directly on to the campus site on the lamppost adjacent to the house that was closest to the previous sports and social club and one at the junction with Parkway. These tubes are changed monthly and analysed annually. The results have been analysed very recently and we can confirm that there are no recorded exceedances in this area. This monitoring will continue as we are required to provide a report to DEFRA each year. Sedgemoor District Council also publish reports on it’s website, this can be viewed here.
Why is the bus stop so large and the grass verge so small?
The original plans provided for an on-carriageway bus stop. However, Bath Road is the A39 and is the main arterial route into Bridgwater from the east. There is therefore a need to ensure that traffic is not held up when buses are setting down and picking up passengers. There is also a risk that the operation of the junction would be impacted if the bus stop were kept on carriageway.
The bus stop has been designed with dimensions sufficient to enable vehicles to exit the A39 and decelerate in a safe manner prior to coming to a stop. The layout will also enable buses to be kept clear of the running carriageway to ensure they do not interrupt the flow of traffic on the A39. The exit taper has been designed to enable buses to merge safely on to the A39.
There is also a need to ensure that facilities for all road users are provided for when new junctions are provided. These facilities must be designed with all road users in mind, including less confident cyclists. Where possible, off road cycle facilities should be provided and a width of 3.5m is recommended to provide for an effective separation between cyclists and pedestrians.
The scheme was therefore adjusted to incorporate these items resulting in the verge being reduced and the hard standing being increased. The current plan here shows the latest design.
