South West

Work well underway Keynsham town centre redevelopment

With planning permission being granted in October last year, Bath & North East Somerset Council’s regeneration Keynsham is progressing well.

With the tired sixties Town Hall building now demolished it makes way for construction to start on a new multiuse building which will provide space for shops and restaurants, a new library and One Stop Shop for local public sector services, new streets and spaces for markets and events, and low carbon sustainable Council offices.

Speaking to Premier Construction about the development, John Folly, Associate Director at Capita Symonds said: “The key driver of the regeneration has been low energy. In the design we have aspired to achieve a Display Energy Certificate of A, which will be one of the first in UK.

“The material selection of the building will reflect Keynsham’s history, blue lye stone has been used wherever possible and brass has been used in the upper elevations.

“Work is progressing very well so far, we have just finished archaeological excavations and we’re now building the foundations.”

It is anticipated the scheme will take two years to build, planning to complete in Autumn 2014.

Councillor David Bellotti (Lib-Dem, Lyncombe), Cabinet Member for Community Resources, said: “This scheme will bring new jobs, greater prosperity, and an improved look and feel to Keynsham.”

Councillor Paul Crossley (Lib-Dem, Southdown), Leader of Council, added: “The revamp of the centre is one part of our overall plans for the town which include the redevelopment of Somerdale and the Riverside building that the Council will vacate. A vastly improved town centre will encourage private sector investment into Keynsham resulting in new jobs, new homes and opportunities for local people.”

The Council had listened carefully to the views of around 2,000 people who attended three exhibitions held over the past year and the comments made by members on the Development Control Committee in August. This resulted in changes to the scheme, such as the roof design and reduction in the area of brass used, which subsequently received the approval of Keynsham Town Council.

Willmott Dixon is the main contractor on site whilst Aedas Architects are the architect.

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