Revised riverside development scheme approved

Plans for more than 100 apartments to be built in a derelict riverside site have been approved.

Developers Red Earth Bideford revised its plans for Brunswick Wharf in Bideford, halving the original project's commercial space to 533sqm, but increasing the number of flats by 13 to 101 across three tower blocks.

The company said its initial scheme - approved in 2021 - was no longer viable, leading to the changes it had made.

Torridge District Council's Plans Committee approved the proposals, which include parking for 103 vehicles and 185 bikes, a public square, 31 public car parking spaces and spaces for 40 cycles.

The developers said public access to the quayside would be improved along the full length of the development on the site, which has sat empty for 30 years.

Public area improvements along Barnstaple Street were also proposed, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Historic England said it had "very strong concerns" about the scale of the main three accommodation blocks and the impact on historic buildings – the Grade I listed Long Bridge and Royal Hotel, and a number of Grade II listed structures on both sides of the river.

But it said that the plans were an improvement on the original scheme, a view echoed by the 79% of the public who took part in a consultation.

Councillors agreed that the plans were more in keeping with the wharf environment, although they raised concerns over the loss of 14 public parking spaces from the proposal and the lack of contribution from developers towards affordable housing.

They also said they would have liked the cycle trail to link with the nearby Tarka Trail.

During the meeting, Doug Bushby, independent councillor for Bideford North, said he was concerned whether the developer would complete the project as these were "challenging times" and housebuilding is "volatile".

He said: "This is a multimillion-pound development in Bideford. Anything could happen with it.

"Once it is started, it needs to be completed."

However, Simon Friend of Red Earth said he was born and grew up in north Devon and he was "invested and personally committed to deliver this project".

"The site has been derelict for decades and is an eyesore, yet it looks out onto one of the most beautiful settings in the south west," he said.

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