Plans submitted for major Falmouth cruise port upgrade
Plans for a major upgrade to Falmouth Docks which could boost yearly cruise visitors to 200,000 have been submitted to Cornwall Council
The Falmouth Docks and Engineering Company (FEDC) has filed a planning application with the local authority and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to revamp the town’s docks.
If approved, the £150 million proposal will include the extension of the port’s Queen’s Wharf berth, which would allow ships up to the size of Carnival Corporation’s Excellence class to dock.
The scheme would also see the number of berths at the port increase, meaning more ships will be able to dock at the same time instead of joining a queue.
In its application to Cornwall Council, the FEDC claimed the renovations could see up to 200,000 passengers visit the port every year by 2030, which, in turn, would boost the local economy by an additional £13 million and create more than 350 jobs.
It adds: “The key economic and social drivers of the project are to ensure the long-term viability, safety and efficiency of operations at Falmouth Docks, alongside promoting the growth and diversification of the activities supported by the dock.”
The application continues: “By increasing the dock’s capacity to accommodate cruise, the proposed development supports the local and regional tourism industry and economic growth of Falmouth (and Cornwall more widely).
“Furthermore, the design of Western Wharf ensures that access to the dry docks immediately east of the proposed development, which are used for ship repair, is maintained. Consequently, the proposed development is anticipated to both maintain existing employment and skills at the dock and create new employment opportunities.”
The plans also included provisions for the demolition and rebuild of wharf structures and a new area for the construction of floating wind power structures.
Earlier this year, neighbouring port Plymouth announced it was expecting to welcome just under 12,000 passengers in 2025 as demand for domestic cruising continues to rise.
