Seaton Regeneration News Room :: 4th December 2006

Developers' Vision for Seaton's Regeneration

Developers behind plans to regenerate Seaton, today submitted their scheme to East Devon District Council (EDDC) for outline planning consent. Following an extensive period of public consultation, Liatris Holdings Ltd - the major landowner of the 40-acre site - has proposed a mixed use scheme that is based on EDDC’s Development Brief and which promises to transform this part of the East Devon coastline.

Liatris’s ambitious scheme is devised to capitalise on, and enhance Seaton’s unique waterfront location on the spectacular Jurassic coastline. The developer’s capital contributions will be pivotal in unlocking several major attractions in the area including a new visitors’ centre, a 250 acre nature reserve of national significance and facilities for the Wessex Way cycle route.

With provision for a new supermarket and other non-food retail, the scheme will greatly improve Seaton’s shopping environment, by retaining local spending and attracting more shoppers into the town.

Also included in Liatris’s scheme are 386 new homes, with a commitment to high standards of construction, design and energy efficiency. The planning application also contains community facilities, public spaces and a public square surrounded by shops and cafes, giving a focal point for community activities. It is estimated these proposals will create around 314 new jobs in the local community, with more coming from a new hotel development in the regeneration area. These new homes and employment opportunities will offer a significant boost to the local economy.

Commenting on the scheme, Terry Dinham, Managing Director of project managers T D Partnership said: “In line with EDDC’s Development Brief, creating facilities and amenities that attract investment will be critical to the regeneration of Seaton. Currently many residents shop outside Seaton and our scheme will encourage more money to be spent in the town, helping to create more wealth in the local economy”.

According to recent independent research currently 61%* of residents do their main food shopping outside Seaton and when it comes to other goods the percentage is even higher. But the development of the new supermarket and other non-food stores in the town will keep residents shopping within Seaton and attract others. With enhanced pedestrian access to the high street from the regeneration area, increased consumer spending will also be felt throughout the town.

This application for outline planning consent is designed only to establish the principle of development and operates as a framework onto which details can be applied. The visual plan that accompanies the application identifies zones of development only, with detailed applications to follow. As part of the application however, Liatris Holdings has also prepared a visual masterplan to demonstrate how this framework could be implemented. This masterplan has been used to environmentally assess the proposals and these details will be used to ensure that the development meets planners’ objectives.

Part of the scheme covers what is currently the Lyme Bay Holiday Village, which is scheduled to close. Commenting on the decision Chief Executive of owners Hollybush Hotels, Martyn Harrison said that the closure of the village was inevitable. “The traditional market that Lyme Bay has relied on has declined significantly. The combination of declining visitor numbers, an inability to increase prices and ever increasing costs to operate the facility means that Lyme Bay Holiday Village does, in our view, not possess a long term viable future.” He continues, “We believe that Seaton can and should re-launch its entire tourism agenda taking account of changing tastes and increasing consumer demand for contemporary products and services.”

As well as contributing funds to the proposed Jurassic visitors’ centre, Liatris will also contribute towards a new community facility within the centre, the use of which is still to be determined by East Devon District Council although a gym or crèche are the most likely contenders.

“We are excited about taking this next step towards Seaton’s regeneration. We are committed to enhancing Seaton’s reputation as a tourist and retail destination and believe these plans will give the town the opportunity it needs to prosper in the years ahead. This development will seal Seaton’s reputation as an attractive town in which to live, work and visit,” finished Terry Dinham.

Notes to Editors

Data source

Plus Four, an independent consumer research company, based their findings on 800 telephone interviews in the Seaton postcode area.

Nature Reserve

East Devon District Council is planning to expand the Seaton Marshes Local Nature Reserve (LNR) to turn it into one of the most important wetland wildlife reserves in the South West. The plan is to merge the Seaton Marshes LNR (26 acres) and Colyford Common LNR (33 acres) and expand the total area covered to up to 250 acres.

The Wessex Way Cycle Route

The Wessex way cycle route runs from the Bristol Channel coast to Seaton.

Sustrans is the UK’s leading sustainable transport charity. Its vision is a world in which people choose to travel in ways that benefit their health and environment. It is achieving this through innovative but practical solutions to the UK’s transport challenges.

• Sustrans is the charity behind the National Cycle Network, Safe Routes to Schools and many other projects that deliver lasting changes in people’s travel behaviour.
  
• In September 2005 the National Cycle Network celebrated its first ten years and ten thousand miles. The Network now runs within one mile of over half the UK population and, in 2005, was used for 232 million trips.