Government cash goes from Bideford to Torrington after project falls through

Two million pounds earmarked to create a Bideford business park at East-the-Water are being diverted to Torrington after the project fell through.

Torridge District Council will use the government cash and borrow £3.3million more to bring the Hatchmoor Industrial Estate at Torrington to fruition.

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Councillors heard at their meeting yesterday (Monday, September 22) that both projects were included in the 12 selected by the government to proceed under its £20.7m boost for the district.

But extensive negotiations had failed on the land at Manteo Way for the Bideford business park as landowners Evans Transport made it clear they did not want to sell it.

Torridge has to spend the cash by the end of March 2027.

The council’s head of communities and place Sean Kearney said the most ‘time efficient’ thing to do was allocate the £2m to one of the other projects in the pipeline.

Introducing new projects would mean a lengthy approval process with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, he said.

Bideford councillors said they would like to see money spent on delivering more social housing in Bideford as part of the Cleave Wood development or another project to provide office space in the town.

But Monkleigh Councillor Robert Hicks said Torrington deserved the money, adding: “Over the 26 years I have been a member I have seen a lot of money go into  Bideford and Holsworthy and other than the Plough and the Globe, not too much has gone into Torrington.

“We have seen North Devon Meat shut and the milk factory, Torrington desperately needs this.”

The new workspace will be focused on high value manufacturing and engineering.

Shebbear and Langtree councillor Cheryl Cottle Hunkin said Torrington was known as a commuter town and it would be great if residents could work in their own town instead.

She added: “We have so many new houses as well and people need employment so it’s a win win.”

Councillors agreed that all phases of the projects including infrastructure and construction of industrial units should be carried out.

In addition to the £1.6m already earmarked for the project and the £2m reallocated, the remaining £3.35m will be funded by additional borrowing.

Cllr Lyndon Piper said borrowing that amount of money was ‘a brave move’ but he welcomed it.

Council officers were confident that income from rentals would exceed any borrowing.

Work is due to start a year from now on the four acre industrial estate, subject to planning permission. The site is owned by Torridge District Council.

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Other projects to be funded by the £20.7m under the Community Regeneration Partnership are:

Holsworthy Agri-Business Park (£7.3m) – development of employment land that to enable the future development of agri-related innovation, retail and workspace.

Appledore Clean Maritime Innovation Centre (£2m) – additional funding to support the build of the centre of excellence.

Agri-tech nutrient pilot scheme (£0.3m) – testing the adaptation of a slurry condensing unit to recover nutrients and reduce the pollutants going into rivers.

Westward Ho! Water Quality Monitoring Buoy (£0.1m) – Installation of water quality monitoring buoy to provide real-time water quality data for beach users, tourism businesses and for managers of environmental systems.

Cleave Wood, Bideford (£1.2m) – The design and delivery of site servicing and infrastructure as a first phase of a residential scheme in response to local housing needs.

Social housing decarbonisation and EPC rating improvements (£1.5m) – Pipeline of works to improve 57 properties with E & F ratings to C or B.

Bideford Hospital (£0.75m) – reconfiguration site to create a “community health and wellbeing hub” with multi-purpose space.

The Globe Hotel, Great Torrington (£0.52m) – Initial capital works on Grade II listed long-derelict hotel to redevelop into an 11-bedroom hotel and restaurant (in a town with neither) with a strong training presence.

Holsworthy Manor Offices (£0.725m) – Phased redevelopment including decarbonisation, remodelling to enable improved accessibility, flow and to increase opportunity for flexible community space (for example, co- working).