Mead Realisations

At the hub of the £25 million redevelopment plan is the creation of a supermarket, restaurant and petrol station complex, with a mix of private and social housing. There are plans to redevelop and substantially improve the

Highbridge Hotel, a Grade II listed building and one of the town’s best known landmarks. Derek Mead says he has been encouraged by Highbridge people’s support for the regeneration project, given overwhelmingly at a public meeting in the town. It was clear to us that they were extremely keen to see something done to reverse Highbridge’s decline he said. We listened to what they wanted and have tried to incorporate as many of their wishes as possible into the final design. This really does represent a one-off chance to put life back into Highbridge and to create an attractive and pleasant shopping centre which, our research suggests, will have the effect of winning back much lost trade for existing businesses.

Mead Realisations Limited:

Established some 27 years ago, Mead Realisations is a land development and property enabling company, which buys ‘problem’ land ie land that does not have planning

permission, has access problems and possibly contaminated soil. The company then uses the services of

specialist consultants to work through the problems before it either develops the land through consortium groups involving other major developers, or develops the land through its own

subsidiary company, Meadow Mead Homes Limited.

Alternatively, the ‘clean’ land is sold directly onto major developers.

During the history of the company, The Chairman has worked closely with major developers, local

authorities, housing associations and other public bodies and has invested a considerable amount into providing community facilities, including roads, churches, flood prevention schemes and public open spaces. As a local businessman, he believes strongly in investing back into the local area.

Two ambitious projects are taking place at Highbridge - a major regeneration project, and Bridgwater - a Regional Rural Business Centre serving the whole of the South West and full details can be seen in the following articles.

Ten miles away, planners have signalled the start for a scheme to create a new Regional Agricultural Business Centre for the Southwest. Mead Realisations £60 million development will provide the most

modern livestock marketing facilities as anywhere in the region. But, more importantly, it will unlock a total investment of £50 million which will bring 1,000 new jobs to Bridgwater in Somerset, many at Robert Wiseman Dairies¹ new £30 million milk processing plant constructed on land adjoining the centre. The total 50-acre site of the development lies close to the M5 at junction 24. The regional centre will be a one-stop shop for farmers, offering regular livestock auctions as well as office suites, auctioneers and farming professional services, first class conference/meeting facilities and accommodation for agricultural retailers and suppliers.Once the centre is up and running, it is likely to provide a new home for livestock sales currently conducted in nearby Taunton and Highbridge. Both the existing town centre market sites there are scheduled for redevelopment.

Bridgwater NFU chairman Hugh Loxton says the centre will be a huge asset to farming in the county and beyond.’ It¹s a first-class scheme and one we can all be proud of’.