Devon eyesore's huge revamp altered as costs soar

Repair and restoration work on Brunswick Wharf’s quay wall has taken place ahead of the planned development

The redevelopment of a dilapidated eyesore on the banks of the River Torridge is a step closer as amended plans for the project go on public display.

Brunswick Wharf has already been granted planning permission and developers Red Earth are now seeking feedback from the public on some changes to the layout of the scheme.

Red Earth founder Simon Friend explained: “Torridge District Council gave us the green light for our plans after we’d asked local people to help us shape the residential, retail, restaurant and public square elements of the development back in March 2021.

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“Since then, we’ve cleared and cleaned up the land, spent £1 million on restoring and repairing the Quay wall and, like everyone, have had to deal with rising costs. This has meant we’ve had to look again at our original plans and make some changes which will allow us to cope with those extra costs whilst in many ways improving the overall appearance of the development.”

The amended plans now propose more space which opens up views through the development, as the four-storey linking blocks have been removed from the Barnstaple Street side of the scheme.

The three main apartment blocks will also have varying pitched roof lines that are more in keeping with the previous buildings on the site. The retail units will be on one level, including the restaurant and a space for a pop-up café, rather than it being in a standalone unit. In its place will be public car parking which had originally been designed to be in an under croft. The new car park will also serve as a location for outdoor events alongside the planned public square and riverfront walkway.

“The amended plans will allow us to deliver a viable mixed-use development that will help to regenerate the area and provide valuable amenities to the East-the-Water side of the river,” says Simon.

“We’ve listened to retailers and amended our plans to make better use of that space and ensured both the restaurant and space for a pop-up café remain included. The changes allow us to provide more accommodation and a better balance of one, two and three bedroom apartments than in the original scheme. We really value the opinions of local people who have shown great patience with us as we work hard to deliver a development that will enhance Bideford ’s riverfront for generations to come.”

The amended proposals will be available to review at a public consultation at the Royal Hotel in Bideford on Wednesday, February 21 from 2pm – 7.30pm. The scheme will then go back to Torridge District Council planners to approve the changes.