A HERITAGE visitor attraction in West Devon could soon be developed in order to ‘cement’ its future as a popular tourist destination.

Morwellham Quay currently welcomes more than 25,000 schoolchildren and 45,000 day visitors annually offering interactive experiences around the river port, copper mine and village.

Simon Lister, the owner of Morwellham Quay, applied to planning authority West Devon Borough Council earlier this month to build a new educational, activity and exhibition/museum facilities linked to the existing visitor’s centre and reception building. It is proposed to build the new facilities in the car park at Morwellham Quay.

Mr Lister said: ‘The reasoning for the application is that Morwellham has flooded many times over the last 50 years and this would allow us to display artefacts and have security from flooding; the proposed buildings will enable us to facilitate the whole business, allowing year-round operation and employ ten extra full-time staff and a further four part-time.

‘We have difficulty during peak periods in accommodating our student visitors the proposed buildings will give us more flexibility to provide a better visit experience during these periods.’

He added that it would also offer a facility for young children and welcome more young families, rehouse its costume area and allow wheelchair access.

‘It will enhance the facility and provide more varied options for our visitors, it will assist in the sustainability and viability of the site.

‘The proposed building development represents a major investment by Morwellham Quay — it will cement Morwellham Quay’s future as a visitor hub, facility and centre for the future,’ he said.

In a statement to West Devon Borough Council by project architects Heighway Field Associates, it stated that the proposed facilities would be linked to the existing reception building which would enable supervision/surveillance of the visitors’ car park and proposed activity/education facilities due to its location within the public car park.

The proposal would ‘enhance facilities for visitors and provide educational spaces’ and also assist the ‘viability of the ongoing tourist attraction which provides jobs and local recreation and learning opportunities for local people’.

The statement added: ‘We would conclude that the proposal will be of local benefit, and in a wider context of benefit to the existing facilities by adding diversity of experience and much-needed covered facilities.’

To view this application — 3410/18/FUL — visit http://apps.westdevon.gov.uk/PlanningSearchMVC/ Comments on this application are due by December 13 and a decision will be made by West Devon Borough Council by January 1, 2019.