Hinkley Point C proposes new campus to ease pressure on housing in Bridgwater

Hinkley Point C is developing proposals for a new temporary accommodation campus next to Junction 24 of the M5 Motorway. The campus on Notaro Way near Huntworth would be made of modular accommodation blocks and feature a restaurant, bar, gym, shop and lounge areas. The site would also have a 700-space car park, as well as 200 cycle and 15 motorbike spaces.

A dedicated bus service will transport workers to and from the Hinkley Point C site.

Hinkley Point C has increased the local accommodation supply since the beginning of the project, with 2,500 beds at three campuses already in place in Bridgwater, Brean and on the construction site itself. The project also established a local housing fund of £4m to create 4,000 extra bed spaces in the local area and support the development of affordable housing schemes.

The new temporary campus will ease pressure on the local housing market during Hinkley Point C’s construction - after which the modular units would be removed and the site made available for future use.

Around 12,000 people are currently working on the construction site, with a further 3,000 expected over the next year as the power station’s fit-out phase accelerates.  The project employs many local people and others that drive into park and rides, meaning not everyone requires extra local accommodation.

Around £24m has been invested in training, including new Centres of Excellence, helping local people to secure high-skilled, well-paid jobs.

Andrew Cockcroft, Head of Stakeholder Relations at Hinkley Point C, said: "The planned new temporary campus is an important step in easing pressure on the local housing market. It’s close to the motorway junction, making it easy to reach and will also create 90 new jobs available to people in Bridgwater."

The full application will be submitted in the autumn, with drop in events available in early September for the public to find out more about the proposal.