Work has begun on ex-BBC chief Greg Dyke’s £35m transformation of a Victorian Devon fort into homes and businesses - with the first properties due for completion in 2022.
The first properties at what is being dubbed “Devon’s most ambitious collection of concierge waterside homes” will be marketed from October 1, 2021, at the waterfront Fort Bovisand, at Wembury, on the fringe of Plymouth.
A project to secure the cliff face and access road, which cost more than £1m, has been completed and work has now started on the first phase of dwellings, with six cottages due to be ready to move into by Summer 2022.
South West commercial property in the news
Overall, more than 80 houses and apartments, with sea views, will be built, alongside a visitors’ centre and events space, a bistro café with rooftop terrace offering views across Plymouth Sound, and a collaborative working space, in what will be called Bovisand Harbour.
Built in the 1860s as a defence against the threat posed by Napoleonic France, Fort Bovisand is one of the best surviving Palmerston forts. In recent years it became a commercial diver training centre and was at the centre of development plans for much of the 2000s. Planning consent was obtained for the development from South Hams District Council in 2017.
Mr Dyke, former BBC director general and Football Association chairman, now owns the lease and said: ““The project is immense, but preserving Fort Bovisand, which is one of the best surviving Palmerston Forts in existence, is important.
"We acquired the site several years ago and as soon as I saw it and understood its history, I was determined it should be saved. It very quickly became clear that the best chance of saving and restoring the fort was by allowing sensitive development on parts of the site.”
He said South Hams District Council and Historic England agreed with this analysis and have been supportive in getting a workable scheme agreed to achieve the future life of the fort.
Most Read
Fort Bovisand, built to defend the entrance of Plymouth Sound, was in urgent need of repair and is currently listed on Historic England’s “at risk” register. Mr Dyke said the project aims to restore the fort, improve sea defences, reinstate the harbour.
He added: “The exciting regeneration plans will bring new life to the site, protecting a significant historic building and bringing it back to sustainable and meaningful use, while introducing new contemporary aspects and homes to the site.”
The initial stage of the project involved the seven-figure investment to ensure the access road to the development was secure, as well as cliff stability work to prevent further damage caused by erosion. With this vital initial stage now complete, work on the remainder of the project is firmly under way.
While the Covid pandemic delayed the original timeline of the project, the first phase of properties - consisting of six cottages - will be finished and ready to move into by Summer 2022.
Malcolm Prescott, managing director of Webbers Fine & Country, which is the selling agent for the development, said the project is as “exceptional as it is unique” and said that, with partners Maitlands, the first phase of the modern properties will launch to the public on October1 with a special VIP preview.
He said: “Consisting of six cottages nestled against the hillside to make the most of the ocean views, this first phase will offer a collection of three-bedroom homes together with extensive flexible living space.”
He said that future phases of development will see three of the fort’s casemates provide space for a visitors’ centre and events space, a bistro café with rooftop terrace “offering stunning views across Plymouth Sound”, and a collaborative working space “which will allow people to make the most of the current remote working trend.".
Don’t miss
He said: "The development offers the ideal blend of lifestyle offering and convenience. This project will firstly restore an historic building and bring it back to life, while creating amazing homes within a unique, beautiful and rugged surrounding.
“The development is located on the water’s edge in the Parish of Wembury in South Devon, much of which is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a marine conservation area and a Site of Special Scientific Interest thanks to its amazing geology and wildlife.
“The location offers an array of outdoor pursuits, such as the Southwest Coast Path for avid walkers, and the Bovisand Harbour provides direct access to the sea with mooring for several small craft.
“The sheltered waters provide an ideal playground for sailing, paddle boarding and fishing. For the more intrepid who prefer to experience the world from beneath the waves, Bovisand Harbour is also home to a dive centre.
“This project offers residents the chance to live in a one-of-kind development coupled with the best coastal lifestyle benefits that Devon has to offer.”
How to contact William Telford and Business Live
Business Live's South West Business Reporter is William Telford. William has more than a decade's experience reporting on the business scene in Plymouth and the South West. He is based in Plymouth but covers the entire region.
To contact William: Email: william.telford@reachplc.com - Phone: 01752 293116 - Mob: 07584 594052 - Twitter: - LinkedIn: - Facebook:
Stay in touch: BusinessLive newsletters have been re-designed to make them even better. We send morning bulletins straight to your inbox on the latest news, views and opinion in the South West. Get our breaking news alerts and weekly sector reviews too. Sign up now - it's free and it only takes a minute. To sign up for Business Live's daily newsletters click .
And visit the Business Live South West LinkedIn page
Greg Dyke has had a varied career in the public and private sectors. A former chief executive of London Weekend Television and director general of the BBC, he was later chairman of Ambassador Theatre Group, Europe’s biggest theatre company, and the British Film Institute. He also has been on the board of Manchester United, chairman of Brentford and for three years chairman of the Football Association.
His involvement in business in the South West began when he bought Dartmouth Golf and Country Club two decades ago – a property he still owns - and since then has been involved in a number of commercial developments in Devon. He is also the principal shareholder in the Vine Hotel Group which owns and runs a series of hotels across England.
Mr Dyke bought a lease on Fort Bovisand when he saw it from the sea and was told it was for sale. His aim has been to build a “high-quality and unique development” site which would enable him to “save” the fort for posterity.