New homes planned near EV battery factory

The new 'gigafactory' could create up to 7,500 jobs

Plans for 170 new homes near a new £4bn 'gigafactory' have been presented to a council.

Construction is under way at the site of the new electric vehicle battery factory at the Gravity Business Park between the villages of Puriton and Woolavington in Somerset.

If approved, the homes will be built on agricultural land on either side of Combe Lane and will range from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom houses, with 51 of the properties being affordable.

"Our aim is to create somewhere that existing and future residents can enjoy for years to come, providing an integrated and complementary extension to Woolavington," said a spokesperson for Grass Roots Planning.

"Development will enhance the local community, while also helping to accommodate demand from the nearby Gravity Business Park, which is set to create up to 7,500 jobs within a mile from the site."

New road and cycling infrastructure will be built around the development but a final decision on the proposals is not expected until the new year, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Developers have also held consultations on building up to 320 new homes near the new Agratas factory.

Bloor Homes South West proposes delivering 150 new homes north of Cossington Lane but have not yet submitted a formal planning application.

There is speculation that more new housing proposals for Woolavington could soon be made - with only limited land being available within the neighbouring village of Puriton.