A WATERFRONT development which it is hoped will bring over 100,000 more visitors a year to Watchet and boost the tourism spend to £7.5 million has got the go-ahead.

The Works Foundry, to be built on Watchet’s East Quay, will include a café, restaurant, an art gallery, workshop/studios, self-catering accommodation, a hand-made paper mill, and public space for events and activities.

Current plans are to have the development open to the public by the autumn of 2020, although talks are still going on to determine whether the site is available under the current leasing arrangements.

Jessica Prendergrast, a director 0f the community interest company the Onion Collective which took over development of the site after a housing scheme fell through, told West Somerset Council’s planning committee last Thursday: “The project, which is intentionally ambitious, aims to bring life and energy back onto the Watchet quayside, with music, entertainment and activities throughout the year.

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

The East Quay is currently home to arts organisation Contains Art with shipping containers serving as studios and gallery space. The rest of the site is used as a boatyard by Watchet Harbour Marina, who lease it from West Somerset council.

Ms Prendergrast said that under the plans, the East Quay would be transformed into a new complex which would showcase local art, provide jobs and draw more tourists to the area.

Buy tomorrow’s Free Press (July 6) for details.