Marina plan for Torridge could bring jobs boost
A MARINA village could be built on the Torridge estuary if plans for a new multi-million development go ahead.
Developers LTPH Properties Ltd say several hundred jobs could be created and it would provide a massive boost to not just Torridge, but the whole North Devon economy.
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Torridge Sailing
The proposals, for the Knapp Farm site, include a residential development of up to 500 homes, including affordable and sheltered accommodation, and holiday homes.
There are also plans for a 70 bedroom hotel and restaurant, neighbourhood store, offices and marina-related retail units and cafe.
The marina itself would include 150 berths, a dinghy park and a boat yard.
The developers say there is also potential for a medical centre.
Ian Thorn, speaking on behalf of LTPH, said: "The medical centre proposal is to be discussed with the local Primary Care Trust, but there is an aspiration for a community medical facility."
He said the plans also include a community centre, creche, youth club, facilities for Northam Flower Show, changing facilities and badminton courts.
He added: "The aim is for it to be versatile to suit the needs of the whole community."
He said the 500 homes are earmarked as affordable, private and holiday homes with additional plans for a 60-bed care home with communal facilities.
A 2,500sq ft space would be set aside for offices, and the neighbourhood store would cover about 3,000sq ft.
Mr Thorn said the company was unable to put a figure on the cost of the proposed development at this stage. He added: "The marina village is an exciting development which will bring new facilities and jobs to the Torridge estuary area, boosting the local economy.
"We hope to submit an application towards the end of the summer/early autumn depending on the reaction from the community and talks with Torridge District Council.
"There would be two phases to the development which would have a significant impact on the whole area, Torridge in particular."
A public exhibition on the proposals will be staged in Northam and Appledore next Saturday, July 11. It will be at the Blue Lights Parish Hall, Vernon's Lane, Appledore from 10am to 12pm, and St George's School, Jackets Lane, Northam from 2pm to 4pm.
Mr Thorn said: "The exhibition is designed to engage with the community and we are keen to hear the views of local residents."
8 Comments
by Gail Baguley, Northam
Wednesday, December 09 2009, 10:40AM
“While i like the idea of more jobs in the area,nothing being built is really affordable for the young on the wages in this area and single people who want to live alone have no chance of buying anything affordable”
by yottie, Barnstaple
Sunday, July 12 2009, 11:04AM
“As Only me says, in an area which is tidal, do the developers know anything about tides? Are they going to pay for dredging and to keep having it dredged? At what cost to the environment?
We have an area which is absolutely brilliant here so why spoil it with unsympathetically designed ticky tacky little boxes now known as "affordable housing".
"He said the 500 homes are earmarked as affordable, private and holiday homes with additional plans for a 60-bed care home with communal facilities. "
Loads of sweeteners, No real content at the end of the day except for the developer.”
by yottie, Barnstaple
Sunday, July 12 2009, 10:55AM
“HAs anyone done a bit of research into LTPH properties Ltd and some of the names mentioned. After a bit of scratching around on the internet some interesting items came to light.
Who are the ultimate backers for LTPH? The aforementioned company's location and to whom it is registered, does this person have any other business connections in Brnstaple, if so what?
I think some checking should be done before anything is given the yes vote.
Will the locals have access to the marina and at what price, or will it be like the parking at the various beaches in the area, we are charged exorbitant fees if we want to go down for the day with the family.
The locals who are resident for more than nine months in the year shoild be able to apply at their council for a "sticker/ permit" so that we can enjoy what is rightly ours.
We do not enjoy a London salary so why should we pay the same prices as them!”
by Banksy, North Devon
Friday, July 10 2009, 11:04AM
“This marina idea has been knocking around for years and always comes with a big housing development attached. And surely that's what this is all about. More houses shoved in wherever they'll fit. If this development does go ahead, soon there will be no gap between Appledore, Northam and Bideford. We have an environmentally-important estuary, let's keep it that way by scrapping the marina proposal.”
by Only me, Abroad
Thursday, July 09 2009, 8:02PM
“A marina in a tidal place? Get a life.”
by timothy, bideford
Wednesday, July 08 2009, 7:26PM
“No! Certainly not. Do not agree to this 'marina' project; it will start with the promise of supplying 'much needed' housing along with the provision of 'much needed employment' and you people who enjoy a peaceful, natural environment will end up with years of building and noise and pollution and a mass of concrete where once the earth breathed. And there will always be something else. Once they start they will continue..... more shops, more homes, maybe a casino or a cinema. It happens. I've seen it happen. And your once peaceful little idyll will grow into a huge town, because the developpers get greedy.
Do you really want that? I don't think so. Think long and and hard ye people of Appledore!”
by Mike Bailey, Devon
Wednesday, July 08 2009, 8:57AM
“This is just the kind of thing that North Devon needs to kick start its economy and will be a much needed boost to the area as we will need to depend on tourism and complementary developments such as this more and more in the future. It can't happen soon enough!”
by yottie, Barnstaple
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 6:03PM
“Has my comment been moderated to extinction?”