The first phase of the plans to redevelop the Taunton former livestock market into a £270 million office and residential scheme have been approved by Taunton councillors.

Regeneration specialist, St. Modwen, the development partner of Taunton Deane Borough Council on the Firepool scheme, has been given permission to press ahead with plans to transform the 4.5 acre Priory Road Car Park into new office and residential space.

Firepool (pictured – click for larger), the first major phase of Project Taunton, is the largest town centre regeneration project in the South West with the potential to create up to 4,000 local jobs. The objective of the scheme is to make Firepool the new commercial heart of Taunton. The large-scale development will offer over 400 homes, leisure facilities and 500,000 sq ft of new office space. Phase one of the development will make available 113,000 sq ft of office floorspace. The development will offer “distinctive offices to accommodate major occupiers, alongside smaller scale buildings for local businesses”.

Pete Davies, development manager for St. Modwen, said: “This is very positive news for Taunton town centre. We are already progressing plans to build the first office building at the site and this announcement shows the Council’s commitment to the development as a major new build office scheme supporting the town and county’s growth”.