SCORES of staff who work for Taunton Deane’s Direct Labour Organisation have moved into a new depot at Chelston from Taunton.

The team of 160 employees are now based the £2.9m purpose-built depot on a 1.93-acre (17,500 sq ft) plot at the Westpark 26 business park. The depot offers a bespoke warehouse, workshops, offices, including a mezzanine area totalling 5,000 sq ft, and a large yard.

Developer Summerfield started work in late spring and completed the project two weeks ahead of schedule. The old site at Priory Way, Taunton, has been sold for economic redevelopment to Helston Garages Group.

Cllr John Williams, council leader at Taunton Deane Borough Council, said: “Summerfield has created a bespoke depot for the DLO that is modern, fit for purpose and provides a better quality work environment for our staff.

“I am delighted to see that this development, and others, demonstrates the important and positive role Westpark 26 is playing in the support of business and employment opportunities in the region.”

Chris Winter, chief executive at Summerfield, said: “Our vision for Westpark 26 has always been to create a diverse hub for enterprise across a variety of sectors. The completion of the DLO premises for TDBC along with new occupiers for Block A and a new hospital on the park, is bringing this vision to fruition.”

TDBC’s depot at Westpark 26 is one of a number of developments under way, or recently completed, at the 40-acre business park, just off junction 26 of the M5.

Completion of the depot brings the total amount of occupied space at Westpark 26 to more than 200,000 sq ft. The construction of roads and other infrastructure for the DLO facility has opened up 4.5 acres of land next to the depot site for further development.