Barbican landing stage at Commercial Wharf

A new landing stage for harbour cruises and the Mount Batten Water Taxi is being constructed at Commercial Wharf in the heart of the Barbican. It matches a similar facility built at Mount Batten back in 1998.

The landing stage consists of a ramped pedestrian walkway from the wharf level, varying in gradient with the tides, and linked to a wide pontoon, 60 metres in length. The walkway and pontoon will meet disability access standards, being free of steps and steep gradients. Some cruise boats are already adapted for wheelchair access.

An additional pedestrian ramp has been constructed between the pavement level at Mayflower Steps down to Commercial Wharf, so opening up the quayside here for all ability access from all around the Barbican.

Over 100,000 passengers use the boats each year. The whole project forms part of regeneration aims for the Barbican and waterfront, and provides the infrastructure for further expansion of water transport services.

The City Council has awarded the contract to construct the landing stage to Dean and Dyball Construction. Construction has taken six months, with the new landing stage operational by summer 2008, and replacing three existing landing points in the harbour.

The planning consent for the project also allowed for the addition of a further 40 metres of pontoon. This extension will be the responsibility of the Harbour Commissioners to construct and manage, and will offer the chance for international cruise ships to ferry tourists close to the historic Mayflower Steps.

The project is being funded by Plymouth City Council, English Partnerships, the Single Regeneration Budget and the South West Regional Development Agency. The Council is working in partnership with the Cattewater Harbour Commission.

Documents

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	New ramp - image of the new ramp. File format Adobe Acrobat (pdf) - 852KB
	Construction work - image of the construction work. File format Adobe Acrobat (pdf) - 821KB