Bridgwater Docks Regeneration

Somerset Council asked people what they thought about plans to bring Bridgwater Docks back to life. The aim is to make the Docks a lively place for visitors and local people, with better links to the town centre and a design that celebrates its history.

The ideas included:

• Better walking, wheeling and cycling routes
• Nicer public spaces with planting and seating
• A new swing bridge and repairs to the historic Bascale Bridge and locks
• New places for boats to stay (residential and leisure moorings)

A total of 205 people took part. Most lived in Somerset (175). Others included local business owners (4), people who work nearby (14), visitors (15), community group representatives (9) and others (12).

Overall support

Nearly 90% of people supported the plans for regenerating the Docks.

What mattered most to people

People shared views on several themes, including travel routes, planting, heritage, paving, lighting and water quality.

Key findings included strong support for:

• Better pedestrian routes (83.90%) and new cycle routes (56.10%)

• Accessible routes for wheelchair users and disabled people (80.00%)
• Greener spaces with planting (80.97%)
• Street furniture, such as benches and bike parking (80.00%)
• New lighting (84.39%)
• Restoring the Docks’ heritage (93.18%)

People also shared views about:

• Planting preferences, with many liking wildflowers, small trees and shrubs. Some asked for low maintenance designs, while others raised concerns about antisocial behaviour or upkeep.
• Paving colours, with most choosing a mix of red and grey (42.93%).
• Infrastructure improvements such as bridge repairs, historic features, and marina facilities, all of which saw high levels of support.
• Water quality improvements, including reedbeds, rubbish filtration and clearing old waste from the Dock bottom, which received very strong backing (82%–96%).

The Council listened to what people said and made several changes to the plans for Bridgwater Docks. These changes reflect the feedback shared during the consultation.

1. We added extra CCTV (closed‑circuit television).
   We did this because people raised concerns about antisocial behaviour.
2. We changed some of the materials we planned to use.
   We chose materials that better match what people preferred and that fit the conservation needs of the area.
3. We removed water‑quality improvements from the planning application.
   People shared mixed views, so we decided to deal with water‑quality work separately, alongside repairs and maintenance to the lock.
4. We added more landscaping near Newton Lock.
   People asked for more planting and greener spaces, so we increased landscaping around the swing bridge.
5. We simplified the plan for the path at Anson Way.
   We removed proposals that affected land under private ownership because people raised concerns.
6. We added more and better water‑safety equipment.
   People told us safety matters, so we improved the amount and quality of safety equipment around the Dock.
7. We changed the plans for refuse and cycle storage in the car park.
   We reworked this part of the design after people gave feedback on how it should look and work.
8. We added more information signs about historical features.
   People wanted the Dock’s history to stand out more, so we included extra signs to help tell its story.