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Tuesday 31 January 2017

Plans for Port Royal: anticipating a Regeneration Board >> a Premier Inn comes to Eastern Town?

There are all sorts of developments struggling for space at Port Royal/Eastern Town:
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: anticipating a Regeneration Board >> affordable housing at Eastern Town

The struggle that happened over Elizabeth Hall on Exmouth's seafront: 
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: and the 'managed neglect' of valuable assets
Futures Forum: East Devon and the expropriation of public space

... ended up with a Premier Inn:




Futures Forum: The Carbuncle Cup Prize for East Devon's new buildings

It is, of course, all about 'regeneration':
Futures Forum: The 'regeneration' of Exmouth seafront

And making a place 'special':
What makes a place special? Premier Inn on the seafront? | Save Our Sidmouth

The District Council certainly thinks it's made Exmouth 'special' - and as cheerleader for a private developer, its own newsfeed makes that very clear:
10 December 2014 - Premier Inn starts recruiting staff - East Devon District Council

Because it's all about 'jobs':

Regeneration and Economic Development Special Item 
- Proposed Budget 2016-17

The Council is adept at using its assets to de-risk locations and attract private sector interest. The delivery of the new Premier Inn in Exmouth and , the commercial success around Exmouth Strand are two examples of where the Council has used its land and property assets to achieve this aim. 
Agenda for Cabinet - Wednesday, 6 January 2016 (pages 107-110)

Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: anticipating a Regeneration Board >>> ‘Scoping Report for the eastern end of Sidmouth’ to be presented to Cabinet >>> Wednesday 6th January
Futures Forum: "Regeneration and economic development" in East Devon >>> District Council cabinet meets Wednesday 6th January

Although the reality is not quite the promise:

JOBS AT PREMIER INN, EXMOUTH: THINK OF A NUMBER THEN HALF IT

10 DEC 2014


Premier Inn announces interest in Elizabeth Hall site October 2012:
http://exmouthvision.com/2012/10/04/premier-inn-set-to-take-pole-position-on-exmouth-seafront/

December 2012 – 50 jobs available:
Premier Inn plans on show - News - Exmouth Journal

March 2013 – 50 jobs available:
‘We will boost local jobs’ - Premier Inn - News - Exmouth Journal

June 2013: planning approved

Today – 25 jobs available:
23 jobs up for grabs as Exmouth’s Premier Inn starts recruiting staff | Exeter Express and Echo

(top 2 already filled – Manager and Assistant Manager)


Jobs at Premier Inn, Exmouth: think of a number then half it | East Devon Watch

And there is great awareness of how this development was hoisted on Exmouth:

“When you look at the bigger picture, things start to make sense. In Exmouth, small businesses seem to have been driven out because they wanted to redevelop the seafront, but for whose benefit? Exmouth didn’t seem to want a Premier Inn."


‘War’ cry over future of eastern town - News - Sidmouth Herald

As for Sidmouth, there have been rumours circulating for some time now (and 'circulating rumours' is actually another way of saying 'there are substantial worries') that we might well end up with another Premier Inn at Port Royal:

... East Devon District Council ... saw, for example, that a deal could be made with a national hotel chain such as Premier Inn, to create a hotel presence in the eastern end of Sidmouth sea front around which exclusive apartments could be built.

A Future for the Drill Hall | Sidmouth Drill Hall Hub CIC

There are innovative alternatives, however:
Futures Forum: “Sidmouth needs more small shops”

Meanwhile, back in Exmouth, there has been a huge amount of anger over further proposals for 'development' of the seafront:
Futures Forum: Regenerating Exmouth seafront >>> cabinet report Wednesday 9th November >>> demonstration Saturday 12th November >>> reports

Because what's been happening at Exmouth is of great interest to Sidmouth:
Futures Forum: The 'regeneration' of Exmouth seafront
Futures Forum: Redeveloping East Devon >>> the alternatives to a heavy-handed approach
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