A long-term agreement with Plymouth City Council for Commercial Wharf will ensure we can improve the marine infrastructure for future use, further raise the profile for the businesses and operators situated here, and establish the area as a destination in itself. Alongside the Barbican Landing Stage, we’re confident Commercial Wharf will become one of the best disembarkation locations in the South West.
Plymouth City Council press release:
One of the Plymouth’s waterfront locations is set for an exciting future thanks to a long-term agreement with Cattewater Harbour Commissioners.
A 30-year lease on Commercial Wharf on Madeira Road is to be granted to the commissioners who want to invest, improve and manage the location, to continue to grow the visitor economy of marine visitors to our city from the water.
The wharf is already home to 19 boathouses, which are used for a variety of commercial purposes, including marine, storage and leisure. The site includes the quay wall, a 17th century quay from the Mayflower Steps to a public access slipway as well as a public open space.
The commissioner’s plan is to make the area a destination in itself, to create a more welcoming feel to this historic wharf, to attract more tourists, events, visitors and marine tourism including cruise, tall ships, superyacht and leisure passengers embarking or disembarking from the nearby Barbican Landing Stage, and visitor moorings.
Cattewater Harbour Commissioners (CHC) took back ownership and responsibility for managing and maintaining the Barbican Landing Stage from the Council in early 2023 – a decision that not only saved the Council future maintenance costs, but meant that, CHC, as the Statutory Harbour Authority, had better access to resources and expertise to maintain the safe operation of the facility.
Council leader Tudor Evans said: “We constantly review all our assets and as we have said before, try to find creative solutions for some of our properties that can unlock jobs, opportunities and prospects – and this certainly hits the mark.
“It just makes sense for the wider good of the city. We do not have the resources or the expertise to carry out repairs to the sea wall – they do.
“We still retain the long-term interest in the wharf, but this deal will allow the commissioners to create something special and look after this landmark using the expertise they have on tap. I can’t wait to see what they do!”
Captain Richard Allan, CEO and Harbour Master, Cattewater Harbour Commissioners: “As we continue to grow the number of visiting leisure vessels to the Port, and invest in nearby facilities including toilets and showers, it’s a logical next step that we take on the lease of the wharf.
“We have thousands of visitors whose first experience of Plymouth is coming ashore at Commercial Wharf, we want to make this experience better, and we’re looking forward to ensuring the site provides one of the best step off points in the South West.”
Cattewater Harbour is a trust port, an independent statutory body. There are no shareholders, or owners, and any surplus generated is reinvested into the port for the benefit of its stakeholders.
Since April 2020, the Council’s Facilities Management have spent over £400,000 including over £300,000 on capital repairs to the sea wall. Significant capital expenditure, major repair and maintenance issues remain.
As part of the tenancy agreement CHC will ensure the wharf remains in good repair – including structures, surfaces and sea walls. They will also be responsible for keeping the public spaces neat and tidy and have agreed to invest in critical maintenance and improvements to the site.
