Agenda item

To seek Cabinet’s approval of the Dovercourt Town Centre Masterplan (Dovercourt Rediscovered) and its agreement to progress the development and delivery of a number of projects. The report presents a vision for the future of Dovercourt and a range of interventions which will support revitalisation of the town centre.

RESOLVED that –

a)     the Vision and Masterplan for Dovercourt Town Centre, as set out in the Dovercourt Masterplan Revisited document attached at Appendix A to item A.1 of the Report of the Business and Economic Growth Portfolio Holder, be approved and adopted;

b)     the development opportunities and public realm projects outlined in Section 4 of the Masterplan (the Dovercourt Twenty) be noted; and

c)     the following Projects be developed with detailed business cases for delivery being reported to Cabinet for approval:

1.      Starlings Block Development & Milton Road Car Park Development;

2.      Kingsway Public Realm Improvements; and

3.         Station Plaza.

The Cabinet gave consideration to a report of the Business and Economic Growth Portfolio Holder (A.1) which sought its approval of the Dovercourt Town Centre Masterplan (“Dovercourt Rediscovered”) and its agreement to progress the development and delivery of a number of projects and interventions which would support the revitalisation of Dovercourt town centre.

It was reported that “Dovercourt Rediscovered” (the Masterplan) examined the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that currently impacted Dovercourt town centre, and developed a strategy for the revitalisation of the town. The Masterplan established a strong and positive vision for Dovercourt town centre; sought to guide and influence future development; and promoted a targeted range of public realm improvements to support the transformation required. 

Cabinet was informed that the Masterplan was presented as a prospectus for change and articulated a vision for the regeneration and transformation of Dovercourt as:

“a thriving town with an attractive High Street, a range of shops and cafes and regular street markets: a town which is proud of its heritage but also able to respond to new opportunities. A town with a high quality public realm and open spaces, stunning beaches and good connections - an attractive place to live, work, shop and visit”.

A copy of the Dovercourt Town Centre Masterplan was attached at Appendix A to the Portfolio Holder’s report.

Members were also made aware that the Masterplan identified development opportunities and a range of public realm improvements that could help transform the appearance and prosperity of the town. The Masterplan outlined twenty key regeneration projects (the “Dovercourt Twenty”), that had been specifically proposed to transform the image and quality of the town, with the express purpose of attracting residents and visitors to the centre, thereby reanimating the town; re-establishing its lost vibrancy; and encouraging private sector investment to reverse the downward spiral of decline. The Masterplan also demonstrated that there was significant market failure in relation to investment and that the Council had a key leadership role to intervene and address this.

Cabinet was advised that the range of interventions proposed included the redevelopment of sites such as the Milton Road Car Park, addressing the derelict Starlings site, the provision of new parking facilities, public realm improvements, shopfront improvements, the reanimation of the station area, and the provision of improved street signage. The ‘Dovercourt Twenty’ also included proposals to strengthen the management of the town and that of the street market, and also advocated the use of festivals and events to re-establish the vibrancy of the town.

It was reported that the delivery of the vision would require the Council to take a lead role through the development and delivery of three priority projects that would have a high impact and stimulate further investment. Those were:-

• Starlings Block Development & Milton Road Car Park Development;
• Kingsway South; and
• Station Plaza.

Members were made aware that from the above it was intended to bring forward detailed proposals for the delivery of the combined Starlings Site and Milton Road Car Park project to Cabinet in September 2019. The Kingsway South and Station Plaza projects would be developed to a ’shovel ready’ stage whereby they would be deliverable should funding become available (in particular external grant funding).

Funding for the above projects was already identified in the Council’s budget.

Councillor Henderson, in praising the proposals in the report referenced the need to correct the mentions of Bay road from Bath Road in the report. He also expressed the view that he Starling ste and Orwell Terrace needed action to improve their appearance.

Having considered the information provided in the report and appendices thereto:-

It was moved by Councillor Newton, seconded by Councillor Talbot and:-

RESOLVED that –

a)     the Vision and Masterplan for Dovercourt Town Centre, as set out in the Dovercourt Masterplan Revisited document attached at Appendix A to item A.1 of the Report of the Business and Economic Growth Portfolio Holder, be approved and adopted;

b)     the development opportunities and public realm projects outlined in Section 4 of the Masterplan (the Dovercourt Twenty) be noted; and

c)     the following Projects be developed with detailed business cases for delivery being reported to Cabinet for approval:

1.      Starlings Block Development & Milton Road Car Park Development;

2.      Kingsway Public Realm Improvements; and

3.         Station Plaza.