PLANS which could revolutionise Watchet's tourism offer reached a significant milestone having been granted planning permission by West Somerset Council.

Plans for The Work Foundry, a new development on Watchet's East Quay which will house workshops for makers, a restaurant and cafe and outdoor courtyard, were approved at West Somerset Council's planning committee meeting yesterday (Thursday, June 28).

The project is a collaboration between The Onion Collective and Invisible Studio architects and had included consultation with the local community.

The Work Foundry will also have a gallery 'fit for exhibitions of international importance' and self-catering accommodation 'pods' for visitors.

The plans also include an upgrade to the nearby stretch of England Coast Path running alongside the development.

Jessica Prendergrast from the Onion Collective says the plan is intentionally ambitious and will create at least 30 jobs.

"The project aims to bring life and energy back onto the Watchet quayside, with music, entertainment and activities throughout the year," Mrs Prendergrast said.

"It will be home to more than 15 entrepreneurs and innovative organisations across social enterprise, culture, geology, and industry – recognising the ample evidence that businesses which cluster and collaborate generate more innovation and growth.

"It has been designed by one of the most inspiring architects in the country, Piers Taylor of Invisible Studio. Not so bad for a place that’s apparently bottom of the heap."

The application also had the backing of Tracey Crouch MP, minister for Sport and Civil Society, as well as the Royal West of England Academy, Watchet Coastal Community Team and Bridgwater and Taunton College which says it will support art education and aid social mobility.

There were some objections however; the Watchet Boat Owners Association raised concerns over car parking for boat users and access for heavy vehicles and West Somerset Railway is worried about the effect of extra footfall on the unmanned Watchet Footpath Level Crossing.

The Onion Collective say the project is expected to create 56 temporary construction jobs, and attract close to an additional 100,000 visitors to Watchet each year, bringing in an additional £2.3m in expenditure.

The plan is for the development to be self-sustaining once it is up and running, and makes the most of tourism income to cross-subsidise the parts which are unlikely to be money-spinners.

In the conclusion to his report on the application, council planning officer Bryn Kitching recommended approval, stating: "The proposed re-development of part of this key site in Watchet has significant public and community support.

"It brings forward an innovatively designed scheme which provides for an exciting mixed use development resulting in additional employment, as well as significant cultural and tourism benefits which complement and build on the town’s maritime history.

"The scheme is appropriate in design and scale and will not harm the wider landscape, townscape or the appearance and character of the Conservation or the setting of heritage assets.

"The scheme will also assist in making Watchet more sustainable as a place and will bring forward other social benefits.

"The concerns of local objectors have been assessed and in the main addressed."

The committee members proceeded to vote in favour of approving the plans.

The challenge now is to fund the £6 million capital build cost, but the Onion Collective says it already has plans to bid for funds from the government's Coastal Communities Fund, EDF's Hinkley C Community Impact Mitigation fund; and the group has been working to build relationships with benefactors across the nation.