North Somerset at a glance
People
North Somerset boasts a population of nearly 220,000 and is home to an economy worth £4.3bn
Talent
A high-value talent pool from renowned institutions with the best graduate retention rate in the country and opportunities for partnerships, driving innovation on our doorstep. 60,489 residents holding NVQ4+ qualifications and 2,800 entry-level workers ready to enter employment.
Economy
A rich heritage of entrepreneurialism and innovation and home to nationally renowned brands. We are located in the West of England region, ranked as one of the most desirable areas to live in the UK, home to 1.2 million residents, boasting four prestigious universities and over 43,000 businesses. This well-connected and innovative area contributes £33 billion to the UK economy annually.
Enterprise
A nationally leading Food and Beverages cluster including the Food Works SW Centre, as well as strong industry sectors in visitor economy, logistics, creative industries, professional services, rural businesses and green tech.
Infrastructure
Nationally important physical and digital infrastructure crucial to global trade as well as direct rail and road connections into Bristol, London, the Midlands, and the South West, including close proximity to Gravity Smart Campus.
Education
Home to Weston College, the top performing FE provider in the West of England, and University Centre Weston, part of the new West of England Institute of Technology, a business-driven academic centre of excellence with a lens on creative industries, sciences, technology, engineering and health. Close catchment to 4 universities.
More information is available in our North Somerset Investment Prospectus.
SuperWeston, Weston-super-Mare
Creative coastal hub of approaching 100,000 population, this selection of short videos showcase just some of the things which make Weston super: Super Weston (youtube.com).
Larger town centre investment opportunities include council-owned residential sites with capacity for 700+ homes in key town centre locations only five minutes’ walk from mainstream rail.
Super Weston is the town’s placemaking strategy; owned and delivered by placemaking partners including the council. The strategy and partnership have enabled successful bidding for over £25 million of government investment. Projects will transform assets along Weston Seafront including the Tropicana (previously home to SEEMONSTER and Banksy’s Dismaland exhibitions and now being rebuilt to become a major commercial entertainment venue), Birnbeck Pier (part of a bigger project to rebuild the grade 2 listed Pier to reopen as a visitor attraction) and Marine Lake.
Investment in the High Street, The Sovereign and Grove Park aim to attract more retail, culture and hospitality providers to increase footfall and spending across the town.
For more Weston Placemaking news to celebrate all that’s super about living, working and visiting Weston-super-Mare please visit www.superweston.net.
Opportunities
Mixed-use regeneration
Dolphin Square and Walliscote Place
Magistrates court
Magistrates court
Retail and hospitality
Retail and hospitality
Public and Corporate Events
Public and Corporate Events
Weston-super-Mare Enterprise Area
The Weston-super-Mare Enterprise Area is North Somerset’s major employment, innovation and enterprise location.
It is part of the West of England’s Enterprise Zones and Area Network and is home to the Food WorksSW, a regionally significant food and drink development centre.
Weston Enterprise Area is made up of a range of employment sites which are allocated for Use Classes E, B2 and B8 and the area can be developed of office, R & D space, industrial space, and storage and distribution.
The £1 billion project will create over 882,000 square feet of commercial space, 9,000 jobs, and 6,000 new homes. Spanning 72 hectares, the area offers a diverse range of workspaces, from industrial units to office suites.
Close to the Bristol Port and Bristol Airport, this Enterprise Area is the perfect location to set up or expand your business in our well-connected region.
Weston Business Quarter
Weston Business Quarter
Westland Distribution Park
Westland Distribution Park
FoodWorks SW Centre
FoodWorks SW Centre
Weston Gateway Business Park
Weston Gateway
Business Park
Parklands Village
Parklands Village
South Gate
Weston Gateway
Opportunities
Other Towns
North Somerset is embracing the future of living today to make each of its towns desirable places to live, work and enjoy. The emerging place based strategies for Portishead, Clevedon and Nailsea set out ambitious plans to create town centres that are compact, walkable and cyclable, with great connectivity, beautiful housing stock, productive workspace, good schools, and a skilled population. Our towns have all the ingredients for a successful local economy and excellent quality of life that promotes local working rather than the daily grind of commuting.