Members of Torridge District Council vote to progress proposals to consult on the future of Fisherman's Wharf, Bideford

Members of Torridge District Council Community & Resources Committee have voted to progress proposals to consult the community on the future of Fisherman's Wharf, Bideford.

Consultation work will begin to understand how the Fisherman's Wharf can be improved to create better provision for its many users, and to understand community attitudes towards the future of the space. The Fisherman's Wharf area is to the north of the Lundy building, stretching up to the Kingsley steps into the water and not incorporating any of the car park areas or Landivisau Walk. 

The Bideford Regeneration Strategy lays out the ambition to establish a thriving Bideford Quay as Pillar 1 of the strategy. This includes the protection and promotion of the working Port given that it is "a pivotal element of the town's heritage and character". However, it also advocates for "attractive and positive interventions" which will help promote "enjoyment, wellbeing and vibrancy back into the town centre", including soft and hard landscaping and seating, both to benefit users who bring groups onto the quayfront and also for events. 

Initial concept designs have been developed, showing a series of light touch interventions, being realistic about public finances in the modern world but looking to see what improvements can practically be brought forward.  As part of the design commission initial high level cost estimates were provided, illustrating that the scheme would currently cost approximately £1.4m if delivered as one phase of works.

Whilst there is currently no funding in place for the proposed scheme, Councillors and Officers are pushing progression to ensure that any potential works can be included in future funding pipelines, including post Local Government Reorganisation.  However, Torridge District Council believes the scheme is strategically important for Bideford and the town and needs to be progressed now to be applicable for funding under the new structure.

Councillor Bob Hicks, Lead Member for Economy and Estates, Torridge District Council, said:

"Bideford Quay is the true gem in the town's crown. Yet it has a confused identity, part working Port, part car park, part low-level public realm. That sense of trade-off has long existed on the Quay and has created a series of compromises that don't necessarily work for any party.  

"I am delighted that my fellow councillors have voted to bring these proposals forward for public consultation.  Fisherman's Wharf is a key opportunity for improvement within Bideford. Its high-profile nature provides the real prospect of building both momentum for the town and also creating real benefits for the local community. It is therefore highly important to ensure that designs are given proper scrutiny by that community through community engagement and that a more detailed scheme can be developed and funding sought as a result. Failure to progress at this point will lead to an inevitable downgrading of the project under any future Local Government Reorganisation."

Torridge District Council is running a public consultation to invite residents to share their views and ideas on the conceptual images.  The consultation is open from Wednesday 15 July until Friday 4 September 2026.

To find out more and make your voice heard, please visit www.torridge.gov.uk/fishermanswharf

July 2026