Thursday, 29 October 2015

Plans for Port Royal: anticipating a Regeneration Board >>> a summary of the issues

Next Monday, the Town Council will debate the District Council's proposals to start 'regenerating' Port Royal:
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: anticipatimg a Regeneration Board >>> District Council's 'scoping exercise' to be debated by Town Council >>> Monday 2nd November

Back in April 2013, the then-chair of the Town Council called for wide involvement in the process of planning for Port Royal:
Futures Forum: Port Royal future: ‘Let’s get the community on board’
Vision Group for Sidmouth - Notes on Port Royal Developments

This followed on from the 'scoping exercise' carried out by the Port Royal Steering Group:
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: VGS and PRSG
Community Engagement Brief for Regenerating the Port Royal and Ham area,Sidmouth Eastern Town. Spring 2012
Community Engagement Brief for the Regeneration of Sidmouth Eastern Town. Spring 2012: APPENDICES


One of the starting points of any negotiations will be ownership:
> The Town Council own the Ham and the Sidmouth Trawler's fish shop premises.
> The Sailing Club own their building, although not the land on which it stands.
> The County Council own the turning circle and other areas.
> The District Council own 'the rest' - although the current/future use is not clear:
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: who owns what

And there will be many other issues to consider:
Futures Forum: Proposals for Mill Street - Port Royal - Neighbourhood Plan

Things go back much further, however. 
This is from the Herald from five years ago:


Sidmouth Port Royal development hope

11:00 15 December 2010
A view of the eastern end of the town. Photo by Simon Horn. Ref shs 7858-10-09SH
A view of the eastern end of the town. Photo by Simon Horn. 
COMMUNITY representatives tasked with a crucial project, key to the re-development of Sidmouth’s Port Royal, have revealed details of the bid for the first time.
MEMBERS of the group tasked with a crucial project, key to the redevelopment of Sidmouth’s Port Royal, have revealed details of their work for the first time.
The news comes as the authority that handed ‘power to the people’ – because it couldn’t produce a long-awaited development brief for the site – said it has yet to receive “a commercially viable plan”.
The Herald reported in October 2009 how East Devon District Council (EDDC) gave the go-ahead for a steering group made up of representatives from Sidmouth’s town council, Vision Group, Chamber of Commerce and Hospitality Association, to produce the document.
The Herald understands the brief was initially intended to go before the council’s executive committee in September and was told by an EDDC spokesperson: “The work of the steering group has not, to date, provided a commercially viable plan. We await developments in this respect.”
When asked about the issue, Richard Eley, a member of the Port Royal Steering Group, said he was hopeful of progress in 2011. He added: “The group has delivered a draft document to EDDC which sets out our broad suggestions for the redevelopment of this very important area. We’ve tried to establish parameters which will guide potential developers and encourage a high level of quality proposals. Those parameters must be realistic, but they should also be ambitious and do justice to what is a wonderful location.
“EDDC has responded with a number of comments which we have considered. In the New Year, we hope to meet with them to decide how to move things forward. The welcome purchase of the Drill Hall means that the site is now much more deliverable, and approaches from developers are likely and should be encouraged.
“We wish to see an open debate, with maximum consultation, leading to a considered and measured appraisal of the potential of the site. The consolidation of the ownership, brought about by the Drill Hall purchase, means that a rushed, piecemeal development of the site can now be avoided, and we can look forward to a comprehensive scheme and a well-considered future for Port Royal.”
Sidmouth Port Royal development hope - News - Sidmouth Herald

See also:
Futures Forum: Become a Friend of Sidmouth Drill Hall
Futures Forum: Sidmouth Beach Management Plan: "the project is actively underway again"
Futures Forum: "Developer-led free-for-all is actually council policy"
Futures Forum: Public Space
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