Plans for Port Royal > the Drill Hall is put on the market with a six month period for community bids

Back in January, the District Council announced it was going to sell off the Drill Hall:
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: 'the redundant Drill Hall site remains a more straightforward and viable opportunity for redevelopment and reuse'
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: selling the Drill Hall, rather than producing a masterplan
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: marketing of Drill Hall to coincide with draft Neighbourhood Plan
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: "... following 18 months of consultation, communication and engagement with the local community to find out what they would like to see there."

Subsequently, there initiatives were started to bring the Drill Hall into community ownership:
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: District Council to 'announce the opportunity for a community bid' for the Drill Hall
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: "More than a thousand people have signed a petition calling for the Drill Hall to become a nightclub, following the shock closure of Carinas."
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: draft community bid for Drill Hall
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: petition to create a community hub 

In April further questions were asked at the Annual Town Meeting:
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal > When will the Drill Hall go on the market?

Earlier this month, there were still no signs of movement:
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal > Still no news of when the Drill Hall will come to market.

Now at last things seem to be moving...

Here is the District Council's press release, courtesy of a message from the Sidmouth Drill Hall Rescue site:

It's on the market!

It is finally here, EDDC have given notification that the marketing period for non-commercial bids is now underway. You can find a copy of their press release here. I have heard that there is a group who may come forward with a plan but things aren't clear yet so please forgive me if emails become frequent over the next couple of months.

It's on the market! - Sidmouth Drill Hall Rescue

With more here:


The Drill Hall for sale?

The Drill Hall for sale, a record of the process from recommendation to conclusion.

All the background to this section can be found in the Port Royal Thoughts section.
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On the 27th June 2018 EDDC put out a press realease announcing the start of the 6 month marketing period for non-commercial bids for the Drill Hall.

Strangely they seem to think that from the 27th of June to the 11th January is 6 months! See below.

27 June 2018

Proposals sought for redeveloping Sidmouth’s former Drill Hall site
Non-commercial organisations given six months to come forward with a bid while marketing to commercial property sector will be three months

In early 2017, a scoping study around Sidmouth’s Port Royal area was commissioned by Sidmouth Town and East Devon District Councils and included 18 months of consultation, communication and engagement with the local community to find out what they would like to see there.

As a result of hearing what local people wanted and also acknowledging the constraints of the site including increased risk of flooding, a lack of financial viability in relation to large scale mixed use development and existing covenants, it was agreed that the original proposals should be ruled out.

At the same time, the general consensus during last Summer’s consultation process in the town was that improvement needs to happen and East Devon District Council, as owner of the redundant Drill Hall site at Port Royal, would carry out a marketing exercise seeking appropriate uses that would add attraction to the area such as a high quality restaurant / bar development or similar.

Proposals are now being sought for the Drill Hall as the district council has selected a property marketing advisor for the site.

Earlier this year the council agreed to allow a six-month marketing process for non-commercial and commercial bids to come forward for the Drill Hall.

Exeter-based JLL, who are experienced in commercial property, are the new appointees and on their advice the council will be marketing the building to non-commercial organisations immediately giving them a longer period to come up with their proposals, and the commercial property sector for a shorter period of time from the autumn.

Local community groups who may be interested in the site can approach JLL for guidance about the information required from them, if they want to put in a bid in six months’ time. The deadline for submitting non-commercial and commercial bids is January 11, 2019.

East Devon is working closely with the town council on the marketing of the site.

Cllr Jeff Turner of Sidmouth Town Council said: “I’m pleased to see that the six month period has now started for the local community in Sidmouth to come forward with any ideas they may have. This commences the next stage of the process in finding a way forward for this area of the seafront which is of significant interest to a great many people in Sidmouth.”

Cllr Philip Skinner, Deputy Leader of East Devon District Council and its economy portfolio holder said: “I’m delighted that we are now able to offer this opportunity for the local community in Sidmouth to come forward during the next six months with their ideas for the site. Our property advisor will be available to offer guidance to interested parties and I look forward to seeing a range of proposals when the marketing period concludes in January next year.”

The Drill Hall for sale? - Sidmouth Drill Hall Rescue

This is the on-line piece from the Herald today:

Bids now open to redevelop Sidmouth’s Drill Hall

PUBLISHED: 17:26 27 June 2018 | UPDATED: 17:33 27 June 2018

Clarissa Place

The front of the drill hall has been called untidy and a mess by resident Dave O'Connor.

The bidding is now open for proposals to redevelop Sidmouth’s Drill Hall.

Community groups have been given six months to make their submissions by January 11, 2019.

Exeter-based JLL, have been appointed by East Devon District Council as property marketing advisor, and will be offering advice and taking bids from non-commercial organisations immediately.

In the autumn, the company will open the bidding up to commercial property sector who will have only three months to put forward a bid.

Councillor Jeff Turner, of Sidmouth Town Council, said: “I’m pleased to see that the six month period has now started for the local community in Sidmouth to come forward with any ideas they may have. This commences the next stage of the process in finding a way forward for this area of the seafront which is of significant interest to a great many people in Sidmouth.”

It follows 18 months of consultation, which included a scoping study around the town’s Port Royal area to find out what the community would like to see there.

EDDC also carried out a marketing exercise to see about the possibility of adding attractions such as a high quality restaurant/bar development or something similar.

An EDDC spokeswoman said: “As a result of hearing what local people wanted and also acknowledging the constraints of the site including increased risk of flooding, a lack of financial viability in relation to large scale mixed use development and existing covenants, it was agreed that the original proposals should be ruled out.”

Cllr Philip Skinner, Deputy Leader of East Devon District Council and its economy portfolio holder, said: “I’m delighted that we are now able to offer this opportunity for the local community in Sidmouth to come forward during the next six months with their ideas for the site. Our property advisor will be available to offer guidance to interested parties and I look forward to seeing a range of proposals when the marketing period concludes in January next year.”

Bids now open to redevelop Sidmouth’s Drill Hall | Latest Sidmouth and Ottery News - Sidmouth Herald
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