Ambitious watersports centre wins construction award

£3.4 million hub at Ilfracombe is celebrated

An ambitious and challenging construction project in Ilfracombe, which had its fair share of critics, has won a prestigious national ward.

The £3.4 million watersports centre became ‘leisure and tourism project of the year’ in the Michelmores Property Awards.

The North Devon Council-led project opened a year ago, providing a new home for Ilfracombe Pilot Gig Club, Y-Sail and Ilfracombe Canoe Club .

Nestled in Larkstone Cove, the requirement for a new sea wall and slipway made it a complex build. The bespoke sea wall blocks were modelled to fit the shape of cove and could only be installed at certain tides.

Cllr Malcolm Prowse (Ind, Bratton Fleming) praised local firm Pearce Construction who took on the job in spring 2021 and delivered the project, as well as the council’s property manager Helen Bond who admitted it had been “a job and a half.”

Cllr Prowse said a lot of people were pessimistic that it couldn’t be achieved but the council had hung onto its ambition.

“Very little came from the district council really when you look at the whole project. We put in about a quarter of a million and what a fantastic investment it has been for Ilfracombe.”

Funding contributions of £1.5 million came from Heart of the South West LEP; £1.3 million from the Coastal Communities Fund, and £130,000 from Sport England.

Officially called the Larkstone Watersports Hub, it also has the harbour view Lime Kiln cafe which has been extended so it can cater for many more than the original 60 covers, and has revitalised an area in a unique and sensitive location, said Michelmores.

The award instigator said it was “an incredibly well thought-through project, offering improved access for watersports activities that provide social and economic benefits for the local community and wider tourism.”

The new facility gives the clubs the opportunity to extend their memberships  and offer taster events, while providing boat storage, a slipway to the water and disabled access and facilities.