COUNCILLORS have backed plans for a new project on the outskirts of Wellington which would showcase the food and drink of Somerset.

Members of Wellington Town Council’s planning committee met on Monday – via Zoom conferencing facilities – to discuss the House of Somerset proposals for a visitor centre, pannier hall, artisan workshops and beacon to be created on land adjoining the Foxmoor Business Park at Chelston.

The visitor destination would promote Somerset produce and some of the 8,500 food, drink and farm suppliers based in the county. Visitors would be able to shop for locally produced artisan food, to take away or eat on site at one of the pop-up restaurants serving quality food and drink.

Cllr John Thorne said the application site was not in Wellington’s boundary but within the parish of West Buckland. “There is a little bit of concern about traffic on the Chelston roundabout – we all know how busy it gets – and if this goes ahead it will only generate extra traffic,” he told councillors.

Cllr Thorne said he did not want to see potential business taken out of Wellington town centre, which the House of Somerset would do. But he added: “I think this will be more of a benefit to the town and I support the application.”

House of Somerset director Nigel Muers-Raby said in planning documents: “Somerset is the breadbasket of the UK. It has 8,500 food and drink producers and a rich heritage to celebrate. It has a long history of fine food production and offering leisure activities for people from around the country and further afield.

“Many millions of people pass along the M5 corridor each year and we want to showcase to those people what is special about our unique county. We are inspired by pride in our wonderful county and a desire to connect our hard-working producers and their products with a wider audience.

“We want the House of Somerset to be the Somerset experience – our guiding principle is that everything we do and sell is rooted in the countryside around us and its people.

“The plan includes a visitors’ centre which explores the history of the county and will have environmentally friendly credentials.

“The building will be centred around our core belief in sustainability, a beacon for future development which will seek to promote harmony with nature and its surroundings.”

It has been claimed that the House of Somerset proposals could create nearly 240 jobs and generate £10.2 million a year.

The plans include a 50m tall tower/beacon which would act as a focal point for the scheme.

The Mayor of Wellington, Cllr Janet Lloyd, told councillors that West Buckland Parish Council had supported the application.

A final decision on the proposals is to be made by the Somerset West and Taunton Council.

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

What do you think about plans for the House of Somerset? Do you think it will take trade away from town centre shops or will it benefit the area? Email [email protected] with your views.