Current situation (Jan 2024):
A planning application has been lodged with the South Hams District Council for phase 2 of the Baltic Wharf development and is publicised on the front page of the Totnes Times 1/2/24. The application number is 3995/23/FUL, and you will find it here: https://southhams.planning-register.co.uk/Planning/Display/3995/23/FUL
The initial view of the Totsoc committee is:
Over development
This application is an over development of this site.
The Design and Access Statement (DAS) for this new application references a previous approved application (56/1939/10/O) that covered the whole site.
This original application was for a total of 190 dwellings, 95 of which have already been built by Bloor Homes.
The new application is for a further 190 dwellings, a doubling of the number of homes left from the original permission.
This results in a much denser development with the associated increase in traffic, both in the immediate locality and around Totnes where there are already problems. The additional homes will also impact local services such as GP surgeries, dentists, pharmacies, and schools.
Too tall
The main accommodation blocks (A, B, C & D on the plans) are too tall at 5 storeys (taller than original application). Two of them are at 6 storeys including the undercroft parking.
They are too close to the river frontage and will dominate the river front on what is an important gateway into the town.
There is an illustrative elevation pictured on page 23 of the DAS final part 3. This purports to show that:
‘The wharf side blocks are arranged with large spaces between them to open up the river views for the townhouses’.
In fact, the spaces between the blocks are greatly exaggerated in this illustration – almost twice the width that is shown on the block plan on the same page. It also shows the buildings from a non-existent vantage point on the opposite side of the river where none appear to exceed the skyline. In fact, from the Bridgetown riverside walk the taller buildings will be completely obscure the top of the hill. This is either a gross mistake on the part of the artist or a deliberate attempt to mislead.
Lack of affordable housing
The DAS talks about the provision of affordable housing but says that it is contingent on grant funding from Homes England. The DAS states that ‘no ‘Section 106’ affordable housing (i.e. without grant) is proposed.’ This is counter to SHDC policy as well as a failure to provide the only sort of housing that is still needed by our community.
You may wish to make your own comments on the application. You can do this online by opening the application using the link above and clicking on ‘Make comments on this application’ link at the top of the page. The deadline for comments to the Council is 22 February. It would also be helpful to the committee if you could share your views on the application by emailing Totsoc.
The committee will give Totsoc’s final comments after considering responses from the members and seeking expert planning advice.
2023: Here’s the link to the website explaining the development of Baltic Wharf – Acorn and TQ9 in partnership.
March 2021 update : TotSoc has had inputs into the proposals for Baltic Wharf over the years, but completion of the regeneration of the site, which has planning consent, had stalled until now.
The TQ9 Partnership LLP and the Acorn Property Group have announced that they are working together to complete the redevelopment of the site which includes residential and commercial space and will retain the boatyard. Jeff Bishop of Place Studio is leading the planned stakeholder engagement and issues raised in the masterplanning work carried out a few years ago will be built on.
Key Stakeholder Introduction (pdf)
There is also a masterplan available from the link below.
Coloured Masterplan copy (pdf )
original masterplan (pdf)