New plans have been submitted to regenerate land on the banks of a Devon river with new homes and a public plaza - and safeguard a boatyard. The planning application for Baltic Wharf, next to the River Dart at Totnes, looks to “create a “bespoke, high-quality and sustainable mixed-use development” called Riverside at Baltic Wharf.
This would include improving the existing boatyard facilities and securing its future at a nine-hectare site at the southern end of the town. Baltic Wharf Developments Ltd – a joint venture between Acorn Property Group and TQ9 Partnership LLP - said the proposal would also offer the potential for a major employment boost to the town and deliver much needed homes and care home.
The new plans, the latest in a long-running bid to develop the land, will also make access to the river publicly available, open a private site for public use with a large public plaza, and provide new river and hillside walks.
READ NEXT:
The proposal updates an extant planning permission from 2012 and builds on the first phase of development of 95 homes built by Bloor Homes in 2013. The update from the original permission was required to replace an originally planned retirement village, which Acorn said has proved impossible to deliver for over 10 years, with a care home and respond to increased flood risk requirements with a raised walkway through the site.
The company said the delivery of the residential units will help futureproof the boatyard by funding new facilities and marine business space. In addition, Acorn will provide a 25-year lease for the boatyard to ensure a “sustainable and viable long-term future”.
Acorn believes the application has potential to create jobs and provide economic benefits. It is estimated the scheme will create about 350 full-time jobs with purpose-built employment areas in the boatyard, the care home, and office and café/restaurant facilities.
In addition to providing 194 new homes, 31 of which are anticipated to be classed “affordable” in the first phase, a 55-bed care home is included in the application, in line with the previous consented scheme. The number of dwellings is similar to the numbers in an outline application with residential dwellings replacing the retirement village in line with the Local Plan which was wholly based on the approved outline scheme.
Acorn said redevelopment of the “underutilised brownfield site” will include a “fabric first” policy, electricity replacing gas and promotion of alternative transport measures and limiting the number of cars and including solar panels and EV charging points.
Ed Lewis, regional director at Acorn, and on behalf of Baltic Wharf Developments, said: “Since we began preparing the proposals for this application in 2020, we have undertaken a significant consultation programme with the district and local council, other stakeholder organisations and the public. We have listened to the thoughts and views of local people and considered the future needs of the town.
“As a result, we believe this application sets out a scheme which meets these needs, delivers a viable regeneration project compatible with the Local Plan. We believe this scheme sets out a positive vision for the future, for local people and businesses. Crucially, it will help to secure a sustainable future for the boatyard, an important employment site in need of modernisation and regeneration."
Steve Mittler, from TQ9 Partnership, added “We are pleased that after 10 years of trying to deliver the outline permission, Acorn has now developed a scheme that is viable and deliverable. As the boatyard owners, this scheme also provides funding for much needed developments in the marine facilities without which would not otherwise be available.”
To view the application click here. For information click here.
