The Somer Valley
The Somer Valley is the West of England’s opportunity to showcase rural innovation and sustainable industry. With a rich legacy of mining, engineering and manufacturing, the Somer Valley is now entering a new chapter, evolving from its industrial past into a modern, green productivity zone, where sustainable business, vibrant communities and landscape-led regeneration can go hand in hand.
There is an emerging cultural and creative economy that can be developed alongside investments in housing and industry. With emerging projects such as Trinity Hub and Old Printworks in Radstock alongside established community festivals such as Midsomer Norton Carnival the cultural offer will be a vital component of creating vibrant communities.
The area's location, close to important transport routes like the A37 and A362, requires significant investment to make this a better-connected area that enhances its appeal for businesses seeking connectivity to regional and national markets.
The Somer Valley Enterprise Zone will unlock 1,300 jobs and 35,800 sq m of high-quality commercial space, with capacity for advanced engineering, creative industries, and clean technology businesses. Anchoring the site is the UK’s first combined heating and cooling network powered by water from naturally flooded coal mines. Co-investment potential is strong, particularly if the site attracts energy-intensive users such as data centres.
Complementary investments include a Somer Valley Innovation Centre focused on engineering and net zero solutions, affordable creative workspace to meet unmet demand, and flagship town centre regeneration in Radstock and Midsomer Norton.
Somerset Council administrative area is located directly to the south of the Somer Valley. Therefore, we are engaging with Somerset Council to discuss strategic cross-boundary matters such as housing provision, transport and other infrastructure..
The Somer Valley has a dispersed settlement pattern, an undulating topography and is physically distant to other key settlements such as Bristol and Bath. The Somer Valley has relatively limited dedicated cycle infrastructure to connect towns and villages and no railway provision and therefore, to access rail services residents need to travel to Bath, Bristol or Frome. There is a lack of bus connections between the east and west of the Somer Valley, poor services in more rural areas and lack of connections between villages. The principal roads within the Somer Valley are the A367, A37, A362 and A39.There is typically congestion during peak hours on the A367, A362 and A39. Congestion and the associated impact of traffic is also experienced within the Somer Valley, notably in the centres of Radstock and Midsomer Norton.
To support sustainable growth in the Somer Valley, improvements to the area's connectivity must precede any new housing or economic development. The council is actively collaborating with the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (WECA) to secure appropriate investment within the region. Enhanced connectivity is fundamental to unlocking the area's full development potential.
- Restructuring of the local economy has resulted in some businesses closing and an increase in out-commuting.
- The Somer Valley area has had significant housing development over the adopted Local Plan period from 2011. However, that has been delivered on a piecemeal basis with little infrastructure provision resulting from and needed to serve development.
- There is a lack of integrated high quality sustainable and active travel links in the area, and steep topography creates a constraint to active travel. Access to public transport is patchy, and within some areas access is very limited. Bus provision has been reduced in recent years.
- There is a lack of wayfinding which impacts residents and visitors ability to access the countryside.
- A significant amount of housing growth has been permitted in the Somerset Council area connected to the Somer Valley. This will result in additional pressure on services and infrastructure.
- There is an identified need for accessible greenspace of at least 100 ha to serve the Somer Valley. There are a number of opportunities to be taken forward through the Somer Valley Rediscovered project linking Waterside Valley; Haydon Batch, Grove Wood, and Norton Radstock Disused Railway Line, with the Midsomer Norton Town Park and beyond.