Further new jobs could be created in Street if a nearby business park is allowed to expand.

The Street Business Park lies on Gravenchon Way and is currently home to the village's Sainsbury's and Lidl supermarkets, along with Pets at Home, Home Bargains, The Food Warehouse and McDonald's.

The park has been steady built out in phases since outline permission was granted by Mendip District Council in April 2015, with detailed proposals for 23 new units opposite the Home Bargains store being approved in September 2021.

Plans have now been submitted for the final phase of the expansion, which will see a further five large unit created to the west of the Lidl supermarket – which could also expand and offer more parking in the near-future.

The plans have been put forward by Canynge Bicknell (Street) Ltd. and Rockhaven Developments Ltd. – the latter of which has been closely associated with the ongoing expansion of the Commerce Park in Frome.

This final stage of the retail park – which was acquired by Sedgemoor District Council in December 2018 – will see five large employment units created, of a similar design to the Westpark 26 outlets which were recently completed in Wellington.

A total of 63 car parking spaces will be provided within this new section of the business park, of which five will be disabled spaces, along with six cycle paths linked up to the existing cycle route along Gravenchon Way.

A spokesman for AWW (representing the applicants) said: "The site contains units with potential for a mix of uses, including associated parking.

"The main entrances and parking are orientated to face Gravenchon Way, so that they are clearly visible to someone passing Lidl.

"Customers would easily be able to identify the entrances and car spaces prior to turning off Gravenchon Way and into the car park entrance.

"The necessary infrastructure, including roads and services, has already been constructed.

"Further land to the south and west has been zoned as an extension to the Street Business Park, and the design allows for these future phases to be accessed and integrated into the overall scheme."

The council's Local Plan Part II (which was ratified in December) allocates the land between the existing business park and the A39 Quarry Batch for further employment provision.

Plans were submitted in July 2020 for this expansion, delivering up to 600 new jobs through the employment units as well as providing a care home and extra care residential units – but a decision on this application has yet to be made.

A number of significant planning applications in and around Street are currently held up by the phosphates crisis – including the council's own housing scheme on Portland Road, designed to deliver 33 new low-cost houses near Street Cemetery.

The council is expected to make a decision on these latest proposals for the business park before Christmas.

Proposed Site Of Five New Business Units Within The Street Business Park On Gravenchon Way In Street. CREDIT: Google Maps.