American healthcare technology company Epic was given planning permission by North Somerset Council in January 2025 to develop a 90-acre site between Long Ashton and Bristol.
The development will be delivered in six phases between now and 2041 and include five office buildings, a 3,000-seat auditorium, a culinary building and a dedicated training facility. The build is being led by construction and fit-out company Gilbert Ash.
Epic’s investment is nationally significant, recognised by the UK Government’s Office for Investment and aligned with the Life Sciences Industrial Strategy. It is a chance to grow North Somerset’s economy, create high value jobs and position the region as a hub for health and technology.
Part of the ‘special circumstances’ under which Epic was granted planning consent for development in the Green Belt included that it would generate exceptional financial benefits for North Somerset’s economy.
The S106 associated with the planning was designed to ensure those financial benefits were realised and that they were focused within North Somerset rather than flowing out of area – with the Somerset Supply Chain playing a central role to connect local firms with those Epic Campus – Long Ashton development opportunities.
During construction, the project will generate thousands of jobs with an additional 2,000 expected to be created once the site is fully operational. The high-quality roles will include software engineering, health informatics and technical support, contributing an estimated £147 million annually to the North Somerset economy.