‘Unaffordable’ scheme for £115m East Coast marina put on hold

PLANS FOR Bridlington’s £115m marina are now officially on hold because they are not commercially viable.

The news was announced after consultants Arup told East Riding Council and Bridlington Harbour Commissioners that the project would not work in the current financial climate.

The organisations say they will now continue to work together and turn their attention back to the idea of a smaller marina within the existing harbour.

Coun Steve Parnaby, leader of East Riding Council, said: “Working together, the council and Bridlington Harbour Commissioners have advanced plans for the Yorkshire Harbour and Marina Project to a stage never achieved before.

“It is with a heavy heart that the decision has had to be made to put this game-changing project on hold.

“Throughout the process, the council and the commissioners have always looked at developing a scheme that was affordable, workable and deliverable.

“Unfortunately, due to the current financial climate and the information supplied by Arup, indications are that the scheme would be unaffordable.

“However, too much progress has been made in recent years for us to sit and dwell on this disappointing news, so the council and the commissioners have decided to seize the opportunity and look at other ways in which we can work together to help regenerate this important part of the town.”

For the last two-and-a-half years, the council and commissioners have been working on a plan to build outside the harbour.

A £3.5m grant from the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Enterprise Partnership funded design and pre-construction work, but councillors were told at a meeting yesterday afternoon the large-scale scheme would not go ahead.

It would have cost £115m, around two-thirds of which would have been for a new outer pier constructed for leisure craft to be berthed, with £40m needed to update the existing harbour infrastructure for the fishing fleet.

But experts have said it would be a huge challenge to find the funding in the current climate.

Chris Wright, chairman of Bridlington Harbour Commissioners, said: “Having worked closely with the council over the past two years on the Yorkshire Harbour and Marina Project, it is disappointing that we cannot proceed with the preferred option.

“What we can do, however, is build on the positives of what have been achieved so far and continue to work in partnership for the benefit of Bridlington and its economy.

“By looking at investing in the existing harbour infrastructure, we can safeguard the town’s important fishing industry and lay the foundations for future development.”

Bridlington Harbour is the largest shellfish port in Europe and is worth more than £50m a year to the local economy.

Now, the council and the harbour commissioners will explore options to modernise facilities for the fishing fleet and potentially create additional berths for leisure craft in an in-harbour development.

The environment around the harbour will also be looked at to attract private sector investment.

Bridlington town councillor Terry Dixon said locals had not been convinced by the plans: “At least we know now.

“It has been pie in the sky for too many years. It could be something to do with coming out of Europe.

“But I’m pleased that they are looking to develop in the harbour.”