BAE Puriton

A ground breaking project to create an energy park on the site of a former Royal Ordnance Factory on the Somerset Levels.

This 170 hectare brownfield site on the Somerset Levels was characterised by a large number of disused factory buildings, ‘blast mounds’ and remnants of the systems of rhynes (ditches) that are prevalent in the area. It also supported a variety of mature trees and an abundance of wildlife.

The Richards Partnership first became involved with the project in 2007, when BAE were beginning to explore opportunities for the redevelopment of the site. Over the following six years the practice worked with a multi-disciplinary team to develop proposals for a new energy park, with priority for renewable and low carbon energy regeneration, and accompanying link road, which would respond to and respect the surrounding environment. Given the size of the likely units that would come forward as part of the development, detailed visualisation studies were undertaken with regard to the colours and tones that might be used to visually ‘break up’ the buildings as seen from views within the wider landscape. These were tested with a number of photomontages from locations around the site to ensure the ‘best fit’.

The scheme was the subject of an environmental impact assessment and received planning permission in 2014.