GB05 – The Burrows Centre

The Burrows Centre in Northam

The Burrows Centre in Northam looks over the beautiful sands of Westward Ho!, an environmental information centre at the heart of nature and also the impacts of climate change.  

Getting Building Fund investment of £400,000 will sit alongside £1.2m Coastal Communities Funding from 2019 to lead to the redevelopment of the centre to provide a dynamic, hands-on space for locals and visitors alike, whilst also supporting school groups from near and far whilst creating 7.5 direct jobs.  

The complete internal remodelling of the run-down site will create a totally reconfigured interpretation centre and activity hub for environmentally-focused tourism within The Burrows. This will support the centre to focus both on the biodiversity of the Burrows itself, and delve more effectively into the area’s rich history and explore current issues such as climate change and coastal erosion. This will be supported by an increased programme of study placements on an annual basis.

Alongside the existing building a new café will provide dramatic views across The Burrows and Bideford Bay out to Lundy Island, connecting and orientating visitors to this special environment.

A new role within Torridge will also underpin this work, with a Nature Tourism Officer providing business support to local tourism-related businesses to help them align with the growing nature-tourism sector, aiming to stimulate 77.3 indirect jobs by making the most of this exciting opportunity.  

 

Getting Building Funding: £0.4m

Completion date: March 2022

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    David Ralph

    Chief Executive

    David Ralph started as Chief Executive of Heart of South West LEP at the beginning of June 2018. Previously, he had spent 5 years as CEO of the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (D2N2) LEP from 2013 where he oversaw the development of the D2N2 Strategic Economic Plan and sector strategies, 3 Growth Deals with HM Government to deliver a £1billion capital investment programme, securing and implementing £200m ESIF programme, the Derby and Nottingham Enterprise Zone, the D2N2 Skills Deal and Time for Innovation programme, community fund and led the executive team to develop the HS2 East Midlands hub. He was also closely involved in the proposed North Midlands Devolution Deal and one of the key architects in establishing the Midlands Engine, chairing the officer steering group. Whilst in this role David was a NED of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, and Marketing NG, the Outer Estates Foundation and a Governor of Nottingham College and on the advisory Board of Nottingham Business School.

    Before the East Midlands, David was CEO of the Have Gateway Partnership working closely with local stakeholders including the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich and BT Adadastral Park across Suffolk and Essex and prior to that was Chief Exec of the Barton Hill New Deal for Communities programme in Bristol and the Nelm Development Trust in Norwich.

    David is a keen sailor, walker and trail runner.