Cooke & Arkwright
News
Porthcawl Harbourside to re-launch key resort
02/04/08
The proposals for the regeneration of Porthcawl and its waterfront have reached a new milestone with the commencement of marketing. Under a joint arrangement between Bridgend County Borough Council and the principal private landowner, the first flagship phase of Porthcawl Waterfront, known as Porthcawl Harbourside, was launched on 28th March 2008. Property advisors Cooke & Arkwright have been instructed to market the 17 acre site to developers for a substantial mixed use scheme.
Porthcawl Harbourside lies to the west of the Eastern Promenade between the town centre, the harbour and Sandy Bay. The scheme is envisaged to include a new foodstore, extra retail space, leisure and community facilities, up to 450 houses/apartments with affordable housing, a new promenade, town square and car parking. The scheme will be designed in line with the Planning Guidance approved in November last year following public consultation. An outline planning application for the site will be submitted shortly, followed by an application to the Welsh Assembly Government for the proposed diversion of the Portway.
“We are delighted that the long sought after and much deserved regeneration of Porthcawl is finally set to be realised” said Louise Fradd, Director of Regeneration at Bridgend County Borough Council. “This is a marvellous vision for the area that will greatly enhance its attraction to visitors and residents and breathe new life into the town. The Harbourside phase includes a commercial core that will rejuvenate the town centre and help to sustain and boost trade throughout the year. It will also strengthen the town`s relationship with the waterfront.”
Michael Lawley, managing director of Cooke & Arkwright said, “The Waterfront project is being secured and sustained by implementing it in distinct phases, commencing with Porthcawl Harbourside. This is an outstanding site and a hugely important prospect to transform Porthcawl into a dynamic, high quality resort befitting its key location on the Glamorgan Heritage Coast. We expect to attract a great deal of interest from major investors/developers and are inviting expressions of interest by the closing date of Wednesday 14th May, 2008. A short list will then be drawn up who will be asked to submit final proposals and bids.”
The scheme forms part of the 7 Bays Project for Porthcawl and the first phase in the regeneration of the whole waterfront. Future phases will include extensive improvements to the harbour area that will ensure it has permanent water for leisure and commercial craft, and a revitalised area around the harbour that will be largely pedestrianised and devoted to leisure and tourism. Historic buildings such as the Jennings Building will be refurbished and a new flagship, all-weather leisure destination will be sited to the north of the harbour.
A further phase will be the regeneration of Sandy Bay, which will be marketed as Porthcawl Bayside. This will comprise mixed residential, leisure and commercial development. The scheme will also incorporate extensive areas of new public open space, including a large green area running from Griffin Park in the west to a new Foreshore Park to the east of Sandy Bay.
The whole development area will be fronted by high quality pedestrian and cycle routes running along promenades from the harbour to Rhych Point at Sandy Bay. The promenades will also play a critical role in new sea defence works which will protect existing properties in Porthcawl and the new development from the risk of flooding.
The project is one of the largest of its kind in the country and will greatly enhance the town`s status as a premier seaside resort.