Lemon PPIP – Partnership Project to Improve Passage: Bradley Manor Preliminary, United Kingdom

Introduction

The River Lemon is a large tributary of the River Teign in South Devon, UK. From its source at Haytor on Dartmoor, it flows through Newton Abbot before meeting the estuary and sea at Teignmouth.

Multiple barriers to fish migration are present throughout the River Lemon. Bradley Manor Weir is the most downstream barrier to migration, located just upstream of Newton Abbot.

Project context and opportunity

The River Lemon is classified as a Heavily Modified Waterbody with Moderate WER/WFD ecological status and a Poor fish classification. The Lemon PPIP project was established in 2024 to address migration barriers in the river and support fish population recovery.

Bradley Manor Weir, built in the early to mid-20th century, measures 13.8 m in width, 10 m in length, and has a 1.8 m head drop. It is constructed from concrete, rocks, gravel, and cement sandbags. Although it historically fed Bradley Mill via a leat, the leat is now often dry and disconnected, with flow maintained by land drainage and other sources.

Fisheries monitoring has recorded salmon spawning in the lower River Lemon but not upstream of Bradley Manor Weir. Resident brown trout and eels are present in the upper catchment. The weir is in disrepair, and its uncontrolled deterioration poses serious risks.

Project aims

This phase of the project will progress Bradley Manor Weir to shovel-ready status. As the most downstream barrier on the River Lemon and given its scale and location, further funding and preparation are required before removal.

This project will deliver the necessary preparatory work, including final technical designs, Flood Risk Assessment, flood permits, footpath diversion plans, public and stakeholder consultation, planning permission and associated documents, and construction cost estimates.