The future of Roundswell is revealed

Foot bridge application shines a light on how Barnstaple suburb will appear in years to come

The future shape of Roundswell in Barnstaple has been revealed as plans are lodged for a £2.6million bridge over the North Devon Link Road.

A map accompanying the Devon County Council application for the new cycle and foot bridge shows just how much Roundswell is expected to grow in the next few years.

There is a park and ride, the new St John’s Garden Centre site, plus a major explosion of housing including the new Tews Lane and Larkbeare developments.

The new bridge had previously been dubbed a ‘bridge to nowhere’ but the map shows it would connect Roundswell to proposed new retail and employment land.

A statement with the planning application says Roundswell Business Park is to be expanded by around 5.4 hectares, while a new business campus is proposed to the south of the A39 and west of the B3232.

It says this campus will include commercial units and cover an area of approximately 6.1 hectares as well as a 0.8 hectare ‘park and change’ facility.

The statement said the bridge would ‘provide an important ‘off-network’ link’ and ‘will be used by a variety of users including day visitors, commuters and local residents’.