The Cowes Outer Harbour Project (OHP) seeks to support the regeneration of East Cowes and also to make Cowes a true harbour, providing additional protection, improving navigational safety, increasing the usability and long-term potential of the outer harbour area.
The Project is the result of partnership work between the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) and Cowes Harbour Commission. A brief summary of the project is provided below, including an update on progress and changes, and a proposed timetable for moving forward.
The OHP has three main components:
PROGRESS TO DATE
During the past 12-18 months significant work has been undertaken to prepare the detailed Environmental Statement (ES) required in support of the various consent applications required for a scheme of this nature. This included extensive pre-application consultation with a broad range of regulators and stakeholders, as well as extensive surveys of the site.
All of this work has shaped the development of the scheme design such that the final details have now been resolved. In particular, modelling and assessment has focused on the following key areas:
One of the major considerations for the project is the presence of the nationally scarce and protected Eelgrass species. The extent of the Eelgrass bed came to light as a result of extensive and detailed surveys carried out for the Project. In order to avoid negatively impacting the sensitive Eelgrass bed the new Eastern Channel for leisure craft has been re-aligned; the Outer Breakwater has been shortened, and an extension to the Shrape Breakwater is proposed.
CONSENTING PROGRESS
The scheme outlined in the plan was submitted for the various regulatory approvals in July 2009. The consents process is a complex one, with different elements of the scheme requiring different consents and these consents have overlapping regulations dealing with environmental impact assessment.
The consents that SEEDA has applied for are:
Good progress has been made over recent months in resolving a number of issues, for example those relating to flood risk and nature conservation. Following extensive dialogue and negotiation of appropriate condition the Environment Agency and Natural England have both recently (Feb 2010) removed their objections.
It is anticipated that the various regulatory decisions to deal with the marine consents can now be resolved in the immediate future allowing the planning permission to be considered by the Isle of Wight Council.
PROJECT TIMELINE
Much will depend upon the timescale to finally resolve the various permissions and any related conditions attaching to the consents.
In parallel with the work to secure the various consents, SEEDA has now started the process of identifying a developer/operator partner under European Union procurement rules. Following a pre-qualification process which identified a good level of interest, three suitably qualified and experienced organisations have been shortlisted to enter the detailed tender stage.
The current timeline is anticipated to be:
Spring 2010 – secure necessary consents.
Summer 2010 – identify a preferred developer/operator.
Autumn 2010 – Spring 2011 – conclude the negotiation of the Development Agreement and other legal agreements and the
detailed design.
Spring 2011 – commence construction.
Spring 2012 – breakwater complete and Phase 1 marina in operation.
To contact the Harbour Master to share your views or to discuss any aspect of this development, please use the contact form.
