New £19.7m health academy gets 'bat cave' approval

Work on a new health and social care training academy could begin before the end of the year, after essential bat mitigation work was approved by councillors.

About £19.7m of funding was awarded as part of the levelling up fund in January 2023, to create the new facility at the former community hospital site on Salmon Parade in Bridgwater.

However, before it could be converted it needed "dedicated bat mitigation" works, which will turn the gatehouse attic into a loft space for the winged mammals.

It is hoped up to 3,000 training sessions will be delivered by the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust through the academy every year.

The site will also include an early years centre and an independent living centre, which will provide support and technology for people wishing to remain in their homes longer, rather than moving into a nursing home.

Councillor Matt Martin said the committee should accept the proposal for the bat mitigation work.

"I'm a big disappointed that our officers refer to this as a bat dormer and not the bat cave," he said.

Responding to security concerns from other members, planning officer Amelia Elvé said: "Currently, there is someone on site because of the ongoing issues that have happened.

"There are anti-vandal security panels which I like to think would not allow people in."

The committee voted unanimously to approve the plans after less than half an hour of debate, while a separate application covering the wider regeneration scheme is expected to be debate by the same committee before Christmas.

Under central government guidelines, all remaining grant funding from any projects covered by the levelling up fund must be committed under contract by March 2027, with all work being completed by April 2028.

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