Have your say on Appledore Maritime Centre plans

Torridge District Council has launched a month long public consultation for its flagship Maritime Centre development in Appledore, with two public exhibition events attended by over 100 people.

The consultation is now available online and will run until November 10 and will be used to fine-tune a planning application submission towards the end of the year.

The site and buildings, which trace their heritage in the maritime sector back to the 1600s, will be transformed with a £15.6million grant from the Governments Levelling Up Fund issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

The plans include a mix of high quality workshops and office space as well as co-working and communal spaces and quayside access to the Torridge estuary.

The council is working in collaboration with the University of Exeter’s Centre for Future Clean Mobility and also the University of Plymouth to create a unique offer to businesses innovating in a range of fields, including clean propulsion, Floating Offshore Wind technologies and Seaweed R&D.

A connection with Petroc College will provide skills pathways to open up the job market for local talent and to become a beacon for inspiring career options through a growing range of maritime and engineering courses. Links are also being forged with a number of other local schools, including Appledore Primary School, to strengthen local benefits.

The outline planning proposals include the rebuilding of a stone warehouse that respects the current buildings heritage alongside all new structures and footpaths and upgraded road frontage.

The artist’s impressions on the council’s website show detail of the views into and around the site as well as an insight into the materials and colourways being considered.

Low carbon and energy efficient features are highlighted, which will reduce the operational impact of the centre on the environment.

As part of the consultation the public are being invited to comment on all of these proposals and their impression and support for the project overall.

Councillor Bob Hicks – Lead Member for the Economy and Estates said: “The project team have done a fantastic job to bring these proposals forward for public consultation and the reaction at the in-person events has been very encouraging.

“The more feedback we receive the better we’ll be able to tailor the design for our residents and partners. I’m confident that the project will add economic and social value through new skills and jobs in the regional supply chain, with major interest already having been shown from a range of innovative businesses and government partners. A welcome boost for both the local and wider economy in Devon”

To find out more visit https://www.torridge.gov.uk/appledoreconsult