£65m scheme 'will make town greener'
The TQ9 Partnership, which owns the Baltic Wharf complex, has revealed its plans to open up acres of green fields as part of the massive scheme, giving children new play areas.
Totnes town councillors have called a special meeting to discuss the major proposals which will be going ahead at their Guildhall headquarters today at 6pm.
The plan is to build scores of new homes on the 13-acre Dartside site.
But the consortium also plans an orchard, wildflower and wetland habitats, a toddler play park and adventure play areas for older children.
Spokesman Steve Mittler said: "Totnes desperately needs more housing, jobs and open space.
"While employment and housing are clearly vital, it is the open space which has a direct benefit for every single person living, working and visiting the town.
"Baltic Wharf is ideally placed to help meet the housing and employment needs on the brownfield part of the site and the open space on the green fields.
"We hope to avoid houses being built on green fields elsewhere in the town."
The consortium recently submitted a major planning application to transform the run-down former timber yard, with 90 affordable homes and up to another 160 new homes for sale, creating 12 acres of new recreation space, a boatyard of the equivalent size of which is there already, plus improved workshops and building a 'retirement village' with 100 'assisted living units' and a 60-bed registered nursing home.
Mr Mittler explained under the proposals most of the greenfield part of the site will remain undeveloped and be opened up for public enjoyment.
Baltic Wharf's redesign is being overseen by architects from Harrison Sutton Partnership with input from Transition Town Totnes and from Devon Wildlife Trust to preserve and enhance the site's ecology.
Mr Mittler pointed out edible landscaping will include fruit and nut tree orchards while existing bird and wildlife habitats will be improved with an enhanced grassland regime to form wild flower meadows and new tree and hedgerow planting.
New and improved footpaths and cycleways will link the development to the countryside and existing networks beyond.
A toddler playground will be sited close to the planned residential area.
Designers are also investigating an adventure play area for older children in the woodland towards the Sharpham Estate.
Rob Hopkins, from Transition Town Totnes, said: "I'm thrilled to see the principles of urban food production being woven into designs for this development."
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