A Practical Guide to Housing Site Crews Near Hinkley Point C

If you’ve ever tried to place a rotating crew near Hinkley Point C, you’ll know the drill: early starts, late returns, vans to park, and a rota that changes on Friday afternoon.

This guide brings together what typically works:

1. Where teams base themselves
2. How to consider drive times
3. Booking terms that prevent small problems from turning into expensive ones.

Working out a wider base in the area? See our West Somerset accommodation page for town-by-town options – Trade Stays West Somerset

Where teams usually base themselves

For most crews, it’s less about postcodes and more about predictable routes and van-friendly parking. Common bases include:

1. Bridgwater – good for multi-van driveways and whole-house setups; usually a straightforward run.
2. Burnham-on-Sea – quieter neighbourhoods can be better for day sleep.
3. Watchet/Williton – closer in some cases, but stock is tighter; booking earlier helps.
4. Taunton – more serviced apartments and amenities; trade-off can be added for drive time at peaks.

Drive times depend on shift windows; crews finishing late often make better time than those hitting morning traffic.

Choosing the right accommodation model

• For up to two weeks, a serviced apartment/aparthotel keeps things simple with weekly cleaning, easy invoicing, and reception support.
• For 3-10+ weeks, a contractor house (or larger serviced apartment) usually wins on cost per head and practicality, offering a proper kitchen, laundry, boot space, and easier parking.
• Rotating headcount? Request a guest rotation in the booking so you can swap who sleeps in which room weekly without fees.

Budgeting: what your weekly spend typically covers (illustrative)

• Per-room (serviced/crew setups) typically a few hundred pounds per room, per week, with weekly cleaning.
• 2-bedroom serviced apartment: usually mid-range for a small team that wants a kitchen and predictable service.
• 3-5 bed contractor house is typically the lowest cost per head for groups, especially when using multiple vans and batch cooking.

Exact numbers fluctuate with season, availability and parking. The best way to anchor budgets is to start with headcount, dates, and vans, then ask for weekly rates with inclusions.

The clauses that save real money

1. Parking confirmed in writing – include space count and any van size limits (e.g., LWB).
2. Rolling weekly with a 30-day notice – avoids paying for dead weeks if plans change.
3. Weekly clean & linen – request fortnightly and specify the day/time that won’t wake night crews.
4. VAT invoices + PO – keeps finance happy and speeds approvals.

Night-shift friendly set-up

• Ask for no daytime cleaning before 3 pm as standard.
• Prefer self-contained properties or quieter corridors.
• Blackout blinds or darker bedrooms help more than you’d think.
• If you’re splitting a larger crew, two smaller properties can be calmer and easier to park than one huge house.

Parking & vans (don’t gloss over this)

A headline rate can look great until you add £10-£18 per van, per night in some locations. Always confirm:

1. Where the vans go (driveway/allocated bays vs street).
2. How many spaces are you guaranteed?
3. Any height/length restrictions (LWB, roof racks)

Getting this in writing prevents friction with neighbours and late-night space hunts.

Common pitfalls (and how to dodge them)

• “We’ll just book hotels.” Works for a few nights, but it becomes expensive and impractical for longer jobs with laundry and parking.
• Ambiguous cleaning times. Night crews lose sleep to friendly but mistimed housekeeping. Write the schedule into the booking.
• No rotation clause. Your booking should allow for flexibility in adjusting the number of guests staying weekly.
• Six-month tenancies for rotating crews. Not designed for this use; stick to short-stay serviced terms and rolling weekly extensions.

How we typically place teams (simple process)

1. Brief: headcount now & max, dates, shift pattern, number/size of vans, any tools/gear considerations.
2. Shortlist: options within sensible driving times, with parking confirmed and weekly clean/linen.
3. Lock terms: rolling weekly, 7-day notice, name rotation, and cleaning schedule.
4. Handover: access, contacts, Wi-Fi, parking notes – and we check in after a few days to ensure all is going well.

FAQs

Can we do Mon-Fri only?
Yes, you can! Our team will confirm with you the number of nights per week you need the property.

We may add two more people next month – does that break the booking?
No, just let our team know in advance; we’ll structure your booking.

How quickly can you place a team near Hinkley?
Usually 24-72 hours for a shortlist and booking, depending on headcount and season.

Do you issue weekly invoices with our PO?
Yes, we can; we’ll match your PO process and billing cadence.

Next steps

If you’re working specifically at Hinkley Point C, please start by providing us with headcount, dates, van count, and shift pattern. We’ll send a shortlist with weekly rates and inclusions. Fill in the form below: