Revised Boardwalk planning application submitted

Sutton Harbour Holdings Plc has today [4^th September] submitted a revised planning application for The Boardwalk, its £4.5 million waterfront scheme that would create 150 jobs and transform part of Sutton Harbour in Plymouth.

The project would see a new pedestrian route around the north of Sutton Harbour for the first time, completing the Sutton Harbour Heritage Trail and acting as a catalyst for further growth and job creation.

The plans include a timber walkway and decked public space, with four new restaurants in two striking contemporary buildings, and two kiosks to the south of Guy’s Quay, Little Vauxhall Quay and Vauxhall Quay.

The Boardwalk is a crucial part of the £75 million Sutton Harbour Framework to create new restaurants, cafés, shops, offices and apartments on underused sites around the Harbour, promoting it as a national destination for tourism, leisure and business.

In addition to the 150 jobs, it is estimated that The Boardwalk would attract 300,000 more people to Sutton Harbour every year, generating an additional spend of £4.2 million in the waterfront economy and cementing Plymouth’s vision as ‘Britain’s Ocean City’. It would also see an investment of £100,000 in signage and public realm improvements through a Section 106 planning agreement and £10,000 towards local public transport improvements in the Barbican.

Since the scheme was originally proposed in January this year, it has been revised following consultation with Plymouth City Council planners and local ward members, English Heritage, the Environment Agency and local residents, including the Action Group for Sutton Harbour.

The footprint and size of the two-storey commercial buildings has been reduced by more than 3,000 sq ft, or 16 per cent, and the main building containing three separate units has been reduced and moved further from Vauxhall Quay, improving visibility.

The area of proposed boardwalk has been reduced by over 55 per cent to retain more open water and access to the historic quay, and new moorings will be available, accessed via a new drawbridge.

Jason Schofield, chief executive of Sutton Harbour Holdings plc, said: “Since publishing our original proposals we have listened to a wide range of comments and worked closely with interested parties to amend our scheme and respond to the issues raised.

“The Harbour has been a dynamic environment for centuries and we believe The Boardwalk is an exciting addition to Plymouth’s waterfront. It would complete a direct pedestrian route around the Harbour perimeter for the first time, drawing people around the waterfront. It would have a hugely positive impact on the waterfront economy in the Sutton Harbour and Barbican area, and act as a catalyst for further growth through our £75 million Sutton Harbour Framework.

“We want Sutton Harbour to be a destination of regional and national significance as part of Britain’s Ocean City, and The Boardwalk is a key part of making that happen.”

Mr Schofield also revealed that there is significant commercial interest in The Boardwalk: “We have six national restaurant operators keen to discuss the development further and a number that have visited the site are convinced that this would be a prime location to expand their presence along the south coast.”

The two-storey buildings would be timber clad and include full width glazing from floor to ceiling with upper floor terraces, offering views directly over the Harbour. They would also have flat ‘green’ rooftops, planted with sedum. The Boardwalk itself would have timber decking and would be free standing from the quay walls, built over a steel lattice supported by piles.

If approved by Plymouth City Council, The Boardwalk would be the latest addition to Sutton Harbour. This year has already seen the opening of Mitch Tonks’ Rockfish at Sutton Harbour restaurant near the National Marine Aquarium, and the Real Food Kitchen opened at Quay Point in July.

July also saw the opening of part of the Sutton Harbour Heritage Trail on the east side of the Harbour following investment by Sutton Harbour Holdings Plc and The Rowe Group.

Sutton Harbour Holdings Plc is also developing the 171-berth King Point Marina at the former Millbay Docks in Plymouth, which is being transformed into a new waterfront quarter lead by developer English Cities Fund, and the Homes and Communities Agency. Work on the marina and its shoreside facilities will be completed later this year.