Work starts on £2.7m centre for business

WORK has begun on a new £2.7 million ‘enterprise centre’ in Somerset.

The site on Coombe Hill in Bruton will be the eighth centre of its kind in the county. It is expected to open towards the end of this year.

These centres offer flexible tenancies and ‘competitive rents’ in order to accommodate for rural businesses.

The centre will be home to 10 new offices, two meeting rooms and seven industrial units, each 50 square metres.

Cllr David Hall said: “Somerset County Council is determined not only to support businesses through the coronavirus pandemic but to continue planning for the future by investing in projects such as this which offer opportunities for growth for years to come.

“I’m delighted that work on the Bruton Enterprise Centre is now underway, thanks to the funding we’ve been able to provide and that which we have helped to ‘lever in’ from elsewhere.”

A county council spokesperson said these centres provide “easy in and easy out terms” for local businesses looking to rent.

Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government, Luke

Hall, said: “We recognise the unique challenges which rural businesses have faced during the pandemic.

“That’s why we’re backing Bruton Enterprise Centre with a Getting Building Fund investment of over £800,000.”

The new centre will join the existing enterprise centre portfolio of sites in Dulverton, Frome, Wheddon Cross, Highbridge, Minehead, Wells, Wiveliscombe and Williton.