DOMINO’S Pizza and Greggs could soon both be opening new outlets on the edge of Bridgwater as a major development site starts to take shape.

The Bridgwater Gateway site lies to the north of the A38 Taunton Road between Bridgwater and North Petherton, a stone’s throw from junction 24 of the M5.

The site currently contains a number of industrial units, a Premier Inn hotel and a Costa Coffee drive-thru outlet, with planning permission being in place for up to 511 homes to be delivered further to the north.

Bridgwater Gateway Ltd. has now put forward proposals for two further commercial units near the Costa site on Carnival Way, which will be occupied by Domino’s and Greggs if planning permission is granted by Somerset Council.

The new units will be accessed off the same spur road off Carnival Way as the Costa, with the Domino’s parcel lying nearest the road and the Greggs site being close to a planned pedestrian link out to Taunton Road.

A further parcel of land in the north-western corner, near the roundabout which joins Carnival Way and Compass Avenue, has been left vacant for a future, as-yet-unspecified tenant.

An additional 36 car parking spaces will be provided as part of this development, along with three motorcycle spaces and 19 new spaces for bicycles.

These two units are expected to create up to 30 jobs, of which ten will be full-time and 20 will be part-time.

A spokesman for Angus Meek Architects (representing the applicant) said: “The proposals aim to provide accommodation to businesses within an established and sustainable employment location, maximising the potential of a vacant plot and demonstrating an efficient use of existing resources.

“This scheme will provide Bridgwater with additional commercial space which it desperately needs, with the benefit of a known end user. This scheme will enhance economic growth within the area.”

Greggs currently has four units in Bridgwater, one at the nearby motorway services, one on High Street in the town centre, one on Wylds Road within the Carvers Mill Business Park, and a drive-thru units within the Dunball services near junction 23 of the M5.

Domino’s currently has one outlet in the town at 45a Eastover on the Celebration Mile. It is not currently clear whether any of the staff employed at the proposed new sites will rotate or share shifts at the other locations each business holds.

The commercial elements of the Bridgwater Gateway site are slowly taking shape, with a further ten light industrial units being approved in May 2023.

A decision is expected shortly on plans for a new Lidl supermarket further along the same road – a development is expected to secure funding for a new pedestrian crossing over Wilstock Way, providing a safe route between the new homes and the Wilstock and Stockmoor Country Park.

Somerset Council is expected to make a decision on the Domino’s and Greggs proposals in the early-spring.