Local planning news in and around Radstock this week:

And some potentially positive business news up in Westfield.

The old Dickies factory on Second Avenue, in Westfield, (under application 21/02891/FUL) is subject to a change of use from historic permission for factory/warehouse with ancillary offices to B2 and B8.

The planning officers have been given details under application (PP-09953125) that reveals that the site, created in 1979, on Second Avenue, has been bought by Bridges, who have plans to expand.

Bridges (Electrical Engineers) Ltd to give them their full title, was started in 1993 and has been based in Midsomer Norton for most of its history.

It began by providing electrical services, but has grown in more recent years to provide products and services primarily to the water industry, and has expanded to offer mechanical and electrical services, control panel builds and instrumentation/automation services.

They say that buying the building will allow even more expansion of the business and provide space to create a central hub that designs, manufactures and assembles modular systems ready for transportation and installation on customer sites across the South of England.

Bridges currently employs 212 people, in addition to numerous subcontractors and agency staff. Twenty eight of them are employed on the manufacturing side across four different buildings on Westfield Industrial Estate, with a further site out at Vobster.

On the planning application it says : " The company is now looking at the next stage of growth."

In other planning news:

The green build at the Bungalow, in Providence Place, in Midsomer Norton, has applied for some planning conditions to be discharged. Under 21/02917/COND

those include building a storage for bikes , an electric vehicle charging point and harvesting rain water to re-use.

In Midsomer an application is in for a certificate of lawfulness for the existing use of an office at The Property Studio, 8 North Road, in Midsomer Norton,

21/02762/CLEU.

And an application is in for a rear extension to create disabled bedroom, en-suite and rear lounge at 5 High Acre, in Paulton. Details under reference 21/02795/FUL

In Radstock itself, the Town Council heard that no decision has yet been made about the future of the Methodist Church, which has a very small, and dwindling congregation. Councillors from Radstock and Westfield have both put in a nomination of assets of community interest – which if accepted by B&NES may slow the process down a little if there was a decision to sell.

A Radstock properties and amenities committee have been appointed by the council to form a working group to review the community interest in the building and what is needed to support the future of the local church.

Planning decisions in and around Radstock this week include:

Permitted. An application to build a single storey extension at 36 Silver Street, in Midsomer Norton.

Also permitted, at Woodside, Midsomer Norton, an application to remove existing and install new external wall insulation, render finish, windows and doors at numbers 7-18 and 19-30.