District councillors speak out on Baltic Wharf

Liberal Democrat district councillors have spoken out about their continued opposition to the plans by Acorn Property to develop Baltic Wharf in Totnes following the release of the first images of the proposed development.  There will be a public exhibition in the town in June ahead of Acorn Property submitting a planning application for the site this summer.  The developers propose building  around 195 houses, a care home and commercial employment space, alongside some of the boat yard.

In a recent press release, Acorn Property Group say the vision behind the scheme is to create an exciting new riverside destination, which provides significant areas of new public open spaces facilitating access to the riverside and five hectares of green spaces on the hillside, whilst celebrating and maintaining the site’s cultural maritime heritage with a modernised boatyard and significant new employment opportunities.

Full details from the Acorn development can be found here.

Councillor for Totnes John Birch said: “Having seen the images Acorn Property has released regarding their plans for Baltic Wharf, I remain unconvinced about the merit of their proposals.  I urge local residents to go along to the public exhibition next month so they can fully inform themselves about the project and contribute to the planning process.  The South Hams Liberal Democrats continue to believe that Acorn Property’s plans will result in a large amount of overpriced houses that local people do not want and cannot afford, whilst also reducing the boatyard to an unacceptable size and compromising it’s future viability.”

Totnes Pulse asked Acorn Property Group for their response and Edward Lewis, Regional Director,  says “SHDC declared a housing crisis in September 2021 and this proposal seeks to bring forward an allocated and consented mixed-use development site which has been stalled since 2012.  We will do this in a viable way, with a mix of property size and tenures. What’s more, our plans will see homes built in a highly sustainable location on brownfield land rather than impacting the green spaces around Totnes.”

Councillor Birch also stated; “Supported by Totnes Town Council we would like to see a Centre of Marine Excellence and Skill built instead that would continue the town’s long association with the sea, and create the potential for 100’s of highly skilled and well paid jobs for the area.” 

A website has been created with an alternative view from the Acorn development plans and can be viewed here.

Birch continues: “I and my fellow Lib Dem councillors do intend to make affordable housing one of our top priorities and we are supporting the campaign to progress the ATMOS community project at the former Dairy Crest site in Totnes. This project aims to deliver 65 much-needed genuinely affordable homes for local residents as well as employment for at least 160 people.  

We will also review all land owned by the council and assess its suitability for affordable housing and invest in suitable property in our towns and villages to provide affordable and social rented accommodation.  We are also promising to support the delivery of specialist accommodation, including for older residents in a way that enables people to remain within their existing communities.”

Edward Lewis of Acorn responded “The boatyard sits at the very heart of Baltic Wharf.  We recognise how important the yard is to the people and businesses who work there, and to the heritage of the site.  Our proposals for the regeneration of Baltic Wharf have been developed in consultation with those who work in the yard and whose businesses have developed there over the years – our vision is to modernise and futureproof the yard for generations to come. All of the current occupiers have been offered space, at market rates, as part of the plans.”

Councillor John McKay for the West Dart ward said: “Having studied Acorn Property’s proposal for Baltic Wharf and the released pictures, several issues arise .  Acorn’s suggestion that the reduced boatyard space has been designed to meet the specifications of the current business tenants is simply not correct, which is why many are planning to leave as they are being subject to all sorts of unreasonable pressures.  The images that have been released are a rather amateurish attempt to give the impression of a large boat yard. Games with perspective will not hide the fact that the boat yard will be a third of its current size and not a viable operation. The text accompanying these images is misleading and disingenuous.

With regard to their proposal to build 195 houses this is completely at odds with the Joint Local Plan, so why Acorn feels they have the remotest chance of getting planning permission is a mystery.”

Acorn say their proposals include: the creation of purpose-built, marine workshops, designed to the brief of the existing tenants, has scope for a significant amount of additional marine businesses. They also state an open storage area provides similar amount of storage for active boats as now and that the layout redesign to avoids a significant and highly disruptive “cut and fill” exercise on the hillside behind the boatyard as permitted in the outline application.

Councillor John McKay also states “The proposals that are being put forward by Acorn are not what the town of Totnes needs, or indeed the surrounding area. We have put forward alternative proposals that would retain the unique facilities of the yard and create high value skilled jobs. I would urge the  landowners, TQ9 Partnership, to engage with us to explore how we can work together for the benefit of Totnes. The sooner this dialogue starts the better.”

The Acorn development event will be held in Totnes Civic Hall on the 9th June.

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