Funding has been approved for a new £11 million Digital Innovation Centre at the Firepool site in Taunton.

The centre will be a flagship development for Taunton, building on local strengths in the digital sector and forming a key part of plans for recovery and transformation of the Somerset economy, including creation of high-quality jobs.

The new 2,613 square-metre building will provide high-quality office, workshop, collaboration, and meeting space over four floors, as well as specialist collaboration support services targeted at digital economy businesses.


Somerset County Council approved several recommendations to enable the scheme to go ahead.

This includes a funding agreement with Government for £1.7m of anticipated European funding, establishing lease arrangements, and entering into a construction contract. Construction works are expected to start in Autumn 2021.

Somerset County Council is working closely with Somerset West & Taunton Council on the project, and it is hoped the new Digital Innovation Centre will be a catalyst for the Firepool site and a hub for Somerset’s growing digital economy.