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The development is just 12 miles from North Somerset, placing the anticipated 9,000 additional jobs within a sustainable commutable distance for local residents. It will also provide the potential for the council to accelerate green inward investment, through building a supply chain cluster linked to electric vehicle battery innovation and manufacturing.
The proximity of the Gravity site makes the Weston Enterprise Area ideally placed to support supply chain activity and link up with Bristol Port and the wider West of England area to develop the opportunities associated with the gigafactory.
Cllr Mark Canniford, North Somerset Council's executive member for spatial planning, placemaking and economy, said: "This is great news for our economy and the people and businesses of North Somerset. We've been expecting an announcement on the occupier at Gravity for a while and have been working up ideas to ensure we benefit from this investment.
"This includes working with Weston College to understand future skills needs so that the right training can be available for our residents and developing a partnership with colleagues at Gravity to market Weston Enterprise Area as an ideal location for complementary supply chain businesses. We're also preparing a local plan which will deliver the commercial floor space needed to realise the maximum economic benefits.
"There is the potential of 882,000 sq ft of commercial floor space in Weston Enterprise Area and we will work closely with partners to bring together this opportunity to ensure North Somerset’s economy is resilient, thriving and delivers for our residents."
For more information about investment opportunities in North Somerset and connections with the Gravity project, the Weston Enterprise Area prospectus is available on the innorthsomerset.co.uk website.