Hinkley proposes temporary housing for workers

The campus is planned for Notaro Way in Bridgwater

A new campus housing 1,000 workers could be built in Somerset to help ease pressure on the local housing market during the construction of Hinkley Point C.

Proposals for a new temporary accommodation campus next to junction 24 (for Bridgwater) of the M5 motorway near Huntworth include modular accommodation blocks and feature a restaurant, bar, gym and shop.

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

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 will also create 90 new jobs available to people in Bridgwater."

Hinkley Point C already has 2,500 beds at three campuses in Bridgwater, Brean and on the construction site itself.

The new temporary campus will be on the site during Hinkley Point C's construction - after which the modular units would be removed.

Around 12,000 people are currently working on the construction site, with a further 3,000 expected over the next year.

The project employs many local people and others that drive into park and rides, meaning not everyone requires extra local accommodation.

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.

"They are modular, so very sustainable in how they can be moved. The opportunity is to look at the area, close to the canal, something that would be really good to be developed," Mr Cockcroft said.

"We're very open to hear community views about the future of the site."