Falmouth Harbour Shares Long-Term Vision and Masterplan

Falmouth Harbour is asking people to take a look at its possible new long-term vision, with early plans for how the area could evolve over the next 20 years now ready to view.

The all-encompassing masterplan includes the idea of a Large Vessel Pontoon and sets out how the Harbour could maintain its vibrancy and services in the decades ahead.

Drop-in briefings will be held on 2nd and 3rd December as the team starts exploring options. Information and a survey are also available online from 28th November at the Falmouth Harbour website: <a href=”https://www.falmouthharbour.co.uk/future-harbour”>Falmouth Harbour Future Vision</a>.

A look at the long-term “vision”

This current study is part funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, allocated through Cornwall Council’s Town Regeneration and Investment Programme, which is part of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme.

The vision has been shaped alongside wider developments in the town, including proposed preparations at Falmouth Docks for Floating Offshore Wind and other non-maritime activity.

Falmouth Harbour CEO Miles Carden says, “We have a responsibility to safeguard the future of the Harbour and our role is to ensure that Falmouth Harbour continues to be a secure and prosperous environment for our team, local businesses, the community, and wildlife.

“We know the Harbour is intrinsic to what makes Falmouth such a special place, from wellbeing for local communities to the visitor and marine economies. A primary focus of this project will be to stimulate economic activity and help create marine-related employment and skills opportunities within the town.

“The vision and masterplan for Falmouth Harbour starts to look at how we need to evolve, how we grasp new opportunities such as offshore renewables, to meet the needs of current and future generations of Harbour users. It’s very early in the process, but we’re keen to hear from our customers and local people as we start taking the first steps exploring the feasibility of future developments.”

📷The vision for Falmouth Harbour includes the concept of a 100m long Commercial Pontoon which could service a variety of larger vessels. Images – LDA Design for Falmouth Harbour

A 100m Commercial Pontoon among the ideas

One headline idea is a 100m long Commercial Pontoon that could support a range of vessels, from offshore vessels for marine renewables to those taking part in large maritime events such as Tall Ships, as well as superyachts. It would offer a direct link to facilities and services in the heart of Falmouth.

Falmouth Harbour’s Commercial Operations Manager Tristan Rowe says, “We presented all the Harbour’s available assets on shore and water to a team of specialists to identify potential areas of development for the future. Amongst the ideas was a walk-ashore pontoon for much larger vessels than we can currently provide for, but which regularly request this service.

“We’ve used this opportunity for a funded study to discover what this facility might look like and what would be required to make it happen. The most exciting part of this is engaging as many people as possible in the Falmouth area and across all walks of life at this very early stage, to see these ideas first hand and provide a real impact on how we proceed as a Harbour.”

A Trust Port focused on future generations

Falmouth is an Independent Statutory Harbour and Trust Port, with responsibility for managing, maintaining and improving its facilities and services. It has no shareholders and is accountable to the local community, with all surpluses reinvested for the benefit of present and future users. Income comes from commercial shipping dues, charges for leisure facilities and pilotage services.

The ideas in the masterplan sit within the wider activity happening in the town and aim to maintain the harbour’s importance to both the visitor and marine economies, as well as the leisure time of the local community.

How to take part

Harbour customers and local communities are invited to the drop-in briefings at the Falmouth Harbour offices, Grove Place:

2nd December from 3pm to 7.30pm
3rd December from 10am to 12pm

Information and the survey link are available from 28th November at falmouthharbour.co.uk

📷The vision for Falmouth Harbour includes the concept of a 100m long Commercial Pontoon which could service a variety of larger vessels. Images – LDA Design for Falmouth Harbour