A £2.5 million project to regenerate Watchet’s East Quay looks likely to be given council support.

West Somerset Council is offering to sell or lease the land to a group or organisation who look have realistic and sustainable plans to regenerate and develop the area.

The Onion Collective, a not-for-profit company, has submitted a bid for the land for their new Vision for Watchet project.

The company received support from the cabinet last week to be the favoured bidders and is set to go before full council next week.

The Onion Collective wants to turn the East Quay into a “beacon that will attract visitors” by building workspace for start-up businesses, tourism and community projects.

The development consists of three core elements: a Foundry, the vertical pier and Contains Art.

The Foundry would be a public space with room for a “reasonably priced restaurant” and “communal makerspace” for workshops and businesses and the vertical pier, dubbed the ‘walkway to the sky’, will provide a viewing point for visitors.

The plans also propose space for Contains Art, the community art project, where exhibitions and workshops could be held.

The scheme predicts that the project will bring an additional £2.3million in visitor spending to the area.

Jess Prendergrast, director of The Onion Collective, said: “We are really delighted to be being put forward as the preferred bidder for East Quay.

“It has been an exhilarating, challenging, and at times very hard work, journey to get this far and we are really gratified that this seems to be paying off, for us of course, but mainly for the community of our town Watchet who have been forwardthinking, engaged and genuine throughout the process.”

The council is looking to sign a three-year optional deal with the Onion Collective which would allow them time to secure funding for the scheme before handing the land over officially.

To watch a video of what the Onion Collective hopes to create on East Quay, visit YouTube.