The Forest of Dean District Council’s planning committee has given the thumbs up to plans to regenerate Lydney’s historic harbourside.

At the planning meeting held on Tuesday, February 13th, the committee approved a planning application to develop the harbour to provide visitor facilities.

The plans include the conversion of two of the existing harbour buildings to house a heritage information point, toilet facilities and the construction of a temporary café and hardstanding square area. The café will be trialled for a five year period to test the viability of this new business opportunity.

The planning application was submitted to the Council for determination by the Regeneration Team on behalf of the Lydney Coastal Community Team (LCCT). Planning approval will enable the team to move on to the next stage and work towards securing the funding needed to make these improvements a reality.

These building refurbishments form part of the wider Lydney Harbour corridor regeneration project, which aims to improve the access to the harbour, and includes a new shared pedestrian and cycle track, landscaping improvements and a phased programme of canal dredging.

Councillor Brian Pearman, Lydney Town Council said: “This is another step towards achieving the vision for the Harbour set out in the Lydney Neighbourhood Plan, and follows the successful refurbishment of the canal swing bridge.”

Councillor Richard Leppington, Cabinet Member for Development, Asset Management, Infrastructure and Housing added: “I hope that as this project progresses we will see additional investment in the Lydney harbour area, so that its potential for tourism and recreation can be opened up further.”

To view the approved plans visit the ‘Planning applications’ section of the Council’s website www.fdean.gov.uk and type reference P1648/17/FUL in the search field.