RAIL passengers arriving in Taunton will be able to walk or cycle towards the town centre along a new, quicker route from the spring.
A link from the station will cross Trenchard Way and connect to Canal Road, where it will meet up with the temporary boulevard on Firepool, which was laid out for last year's Cricket World Cup.
The former Great Western Railway building off Canal Road is being converted into a site office for the redevelopment of the location of the former livestock market, which closed 13 years ago.
Somerset West and Taunton Council's full council heard on Tuesday that the authority is creating its own company (SPV) to help deliver some of the other commercial elements of the redevelopment, which includes homes, shops, offices, a cinema, bars and restaurants.
Cllr Marcus Kravis, portfolio holder for economic development, said: “The GWR refurbishment work has now commenced, aiming to secure and return the building to active use as a site office in early-2021.
“Our plans for the cycle path are being adapted to allow for the build programme and construction footprint of the new digital innovation centre, which overlaps with the original temporary route.
“Access will be made available from Trenchard Way to Canal Road for pedestrians and cyclists in spring 2021 as planned.”
SWT is working with Somerset County Council to deliver by 2023 a 3,000 sq m digital innovation centre on Canal Road with £5.5million from the government’s Getting Building Fund.
Cllr Kravis said the in-house company would be “the most efficient delivery route” for large projects which would otherwise struggle to get off the ground.
He said: “A dedicated development arm which will be solely focussed on delivery of key regeneration projects was approved by the full council during confidential session on November 3.
“The detailed work to progress this key component is now underway, with a view to formation of the new company in the next three months.”
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