An independent group of ‘Community Champions’ is to oversee public
involvement in the first detailed designs for Baltic Wharf in Totnes.
The Baltic Wharf Consultation
Steering Group will support and help
guide the work of an independent facilitator to gather ideas from across
the Totnes community, including those who do not usually participate in such
events.
Local people will be asked for
their input into the look and feel of phase
one of the 26-acre redevelopment in the New Year.
Phase one will include the co-housing scheme and the
Landscape and Wildlife Design Plan for the entire £48 million development will
also be consulted on and submitted.
The steering group includes
members from the town and district councils, KEVICC, Transition Town Totnes,
the co-housing group and others. Its role and composition was decided by
townspeople at a pre-consultation meeting in August.
Baltic Wharf Consultation Steering Group member, Tony Whitty, said: “Steering
Group members will do their very best to be effective community champions so
that everyone who wants a say in Baltic Wharf’s design can get their opinion
across. People will be able to come to us if they feel an important point
hasn’t been properly considered. It is potentially a very exciting new way for developments
in the town to work with communities.”
Steve Mittler, Director of Baltic Wharf, said: “We have learned
that genuine community involvement makes for a better scheme. By getting a
detailed understanding of these views at the beginning we have the best chance
of producing a scheme the community really wants.”
Leading the consultation process is independent facilitator, Jeff
Bishop from BDOR Limited (www.bdor.co.uk). He said: “In my experience it is
rare for a developer to seek this level of local involvement,
especially for a project of this size. This is a real opportunity for everyone
who is interested in Baltic Wharf’s future.”
Full details of the public
consultation will be finalised in the coming weeks. As well as at least one big
public drop-in event, the process is expected to include workshops and other
types of interactive activities.
The feedback will be used to help
draw up a detailed planning application for phase one, which South Hams
Councillors will have to approve before construction work on the site can begin.
Once complete, the Baltic Wharf
revival will have space for over 300 jobs, a fully modernised boatyard,
extensive live-work opportunities, a ground-breaking co-housing scheme, up to
190 affordable and market homes and a retirement village.
Some 12 acres of the site will
become a new green community space with wildlife-friendly play and picnic areas
and riverside walkways linking to the footpaths beyond.
Outline planning permission for
the semi-dilapidated 26-acre site was granted in December 2010.
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