Futuristic bid to test underwater living gets go-ahead as quarry to become marine facility

‘Exciting’ plans for a futuristic marine engineering facility which may advance how humankind can explore and live underwater has been given the go-ahead. DEEP, an ocean technology and exploration company, is investing in the former National Diving and Activity Centre in Tidenham in the Forest of Dean.

The firm’s aim is for a "permanent human presence" under oceans at depths of more than 650ft from 2027. At the moment scientists or deep sea workers going down to such depths can only do so for a maximum of a few hours at a time.

But DEEP says it will use innovative technology to allow scientists to operate at depth for extended periods of time - maybe a month. And their plan to use Day House Quarry to test out equipment such as submersibles is now a step closer.

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Forest of Dean District Council has approved an outline application for a marine engineering facility comprising research, offices, warehousing, medical and manufacturing activities, along with staff accommodation, hard and soft landscaping, infrastructure and associated works.

Dayhouse Holdings Ltd has been granted permission to develop up to 31,000sqm of new floorspace, although it is not expected that any individual building will be more than 9,000sqm in area and the maximum building height is proposed to be three storeys tall. An upgrade of the site access off the A48 is also proposed to include a ghost-island right-turning lane junction along with visibility improvements.

The existing temporary facilities on site are to be replaced by permanent buildings, intensifying the use of the site for research and diving related activities. The site is proposed to be operated by DEEP Research Labs. DEEP seeks to radically advance how humankind can access, explore, and inhabit underwater environments.

Appearance, landscaping, layout and scale for the site’s development are all reserved for future consideration. Chris Potts, a senior director at Savills, said he had been working with DEEP’s senior management team for three and a half years.

He told the development management committee on November 12 that DEEP’s mission is incredible and is about advancing how humankind can access, explore and inhabit underwater environments. “What DEEP is looking to do is a renaissance in ocean exploration and research,” he said.

“So we've got a unique company. We've got a unique mission. We've got a certainly unique site. What we've also got is urgency the progress DEEP have made in the last three years in developing prototypes around subsidy habitats and submersibles is incredible.

“What we have to do is make sure the land, the buildings and the facilities keep pace in order for them to pursue this objective.”

Ward councillor Jonathan Lane (G, Tidenham) spoke of the enthusiasm residents have for the proposal. “No one has expressed any concern or war or anxiety about this endeavour. There's a powerful sense of enthusiasm, a lot of curiosity.

“And there's massive job opportunities connected to this as well. There's a huge amount of money potentially being invested into this site.

“And it isn't just about jobs in the here and now it's about inspiring future generations as well. I'm absolutely convinced that loads of people who live locally are going to be inspired by this.

“I've had four headteachers speak to me about how they can get access to the site and how they can learn more about what's happening. I hope that any concerns about the plans are mitigated against careful planning and sensitivity to the natural environment.

“But having met the team at DEEP, they've always expressed their desire to enhance the biodiversity at the site alongside their aspirations to make this a cutting edge facility for aquatic research.”

Councillor Jacob Sanders (L, Cinderford West) proposed approving the scheme and this was second by Cllr Richard Burton (G, Newnham)