07/07/2026
PLANNING CONSULTANT TESTS ULTRASONIC SURGICAL SCALPEL ON PORK CHOP DURING WORKING DAY
Yes, you read that right.
Thank you to BOWA Medical UK for inviting me to the official opening ceremony and tour of their new HQ in Kingskerswell, Devon.
BOWA Medical manufactures advanced, energy-based surgical systems and instruments used in open and laparoscopic (minimally invasive) procedures. Their new UK HQ incorporates not only high-tech and ultra-clean manufacturing, labs, warehousing and offices, but also a skills lab where doctors and nurses receive training in use of the tools.
Our tour included a visit to the skills lab, where I had the chance to test out an ultrasonic surgical scalpel - not on a human, thankfully - but on a pork chop!
Kudos to Teignbridge District Council economic development for pushing this project in the first place and keeping BOWA Medical jobs and GVA in their area.
This was one of the very first planning applications to be submitted after, and accounting for, the landmark Hillside Supreme Court judgement of 2022, when the industry was still getting to grips with how to structure overlapping planning permissions as was the case here. Roach Planning were planning advisers and agents to BOWA Medical UK.
The planning application was dealt with very efficiently by Teignbridge as LPA in that (at the time) new legal context.
Huge congratulations to BOWA Medical UK - to Chris Graham in particular - for committing to and delivering this project, it's looking fantastic.
Also congratulations to Chris Jones and Andy Palmer of Pinnacle for designing and project-managing respectively.
And hats off to Devon Contractors for the build, plus all the numerous consultants and sub-contractors involved in civils, structures, M&E, interior design, technical fit-out, landscaping etc.
To top it all, the project was also recently crowned Project of the Year (Under £10m) at the 2026 Michelmores Property Awards.
