Willmott Dixon has been appointed deliver a £11 million Digital Innovation Centre at Firepool, Taunton.

Procured using SCAPE's construction framework, it will play a key role in Somerset County Council’s plans for the post Covid-19 recovery and transformation of the local economy, providing high-quality managed offices and workspace for home-grown start-ups and small and medium sized enterprises, while attracting new businesses and inward investment.

The 2,613 square-metre building will feature office, workshop, collaboration and meeting space over four storeys, as well as innovation support services targeted at digital economy businesses. The project is funded by the county, the Government’s Getting Building Fund and the European Regional Development Fund, with further contributions from Somerset’s Business Rates Retention Fund and Somerset West and Taunton Council.


Cllr David Hall, responsible for economic development, planning and community infrastructure at County Hall, said: "This scheme will help meet the demand for top-quality business accommodation for digital businesses in Somerset. It will see a number of highly-skilled jobs created and contribute to improving economic productivity and prosperity in Somerset."

Rob Woolcock, director at Willmott Dixon's Wales and West business said: "We are delighted to commence work at the Digital Innovation Centre, this is a landmark project for the Firepool site, and we understand how important this is to Taunton's development as a regional hub for innovation and business development."