Appledore Fish Dock
SWH Build complete Works at Appledore Fish Dock, North Devon. The value of the Works was £2.9m with a duration of 44 weeks.


In 2007, Torridge District Council decided to invest in modernising the ­facilities for the local fishermen of Appledore. Their investment in the fish dock included work to three buildings.

The design and construction of a new two storey fish processing building ­containing storage and processing facilities, offices and welfare ­accommodation was preceded by the demolition of an existing car ­maintenance workshop and reclamation of this area of the site. The ­building was piled, steel framed, clad largely with cedar and was crowned with a ­copper roof to face the hostile marine exposure.

Surplus heat from the refrigerator and freezer condensers was reclaimed and supplemented by solar ­panels to provide a sustainable solution to ­heating and hot water requirements. The project was ­required to achieve a BREEAM Very Good score but an EXCELLENT award was achieved.

The former fish processing building was converted and extended with a two storey extension to ­provide a bait fridge and ice silo with a chute to place ice into the facility and also directly into the boats. The third building involved the extensive refurbishment of an existing office building.

Circumstances ­dictated that the fishermen would need to occupy the premises throughout the construction period. This had not been ­contemplated when tenders had been invited. SWH Build worked with ­Torridge ­District Council and the fishermen, reprogramming the phased work to ensure the facility was ­operational throughout.

The quay wall was difficult and expensive to build in the way that had originally been envisaged. This task involved working close to and with sea water within the tidal range, and had the added risk of the ­fishermen working on site throughout.

SWH Build redesigned the sea wall and utilised a scaffold ­cantilevered off the existing dock wall with strict on site control, suitable rescue ­precautions and the ­provision of special equipment to achieve a safe and ­efficient solution. A beam was built below the level of the surface piled with compression and tension piles, forming a foundation for a new piled wall in front of the existing. The gap between was filled with concrete. Design and ­construction of a new two storey fish processing building containing storage and processing facilities, offices and ­welfare ­accommodation.