PLANNING APPLICATION GOES IN FOR £100M MARTELLO QUAYS PROJECT

The planning application has been submitted for a proposed £100m waterfront redevelopment at Pembroke Dock which would include one of the largest marina developments currently being planned in the UK.

The proposed Martello Quays development would provide the opportunity for

260 marina berths
450 homes, mainly apartments, including 140 houses with a waterfront view and potential marina berth
a factory outlet
chandlery shop
hotel, five screen multiplex cinema, pub / restaurant / shops
250 marina car park spaces

The proposals seek to reinforce and create strong links with the town centre to ensure it is fully integrated and a genuine part of the community of Pembroke Dock.

The development is also paying careful attention to environmental issues. It is located outside of the European Special Area of Conservation that covers much of the Haven, is designed to minimise dredging requirements and will provide a significant flood protection function to the town.

The new homes will pay careful attention in their design to energy efficiency standards and effective use of resources.

The development is being supported by Milford Haven Port Authority, Pembrokeshire County Council, the Welsh Assembly Government Department of Enterprise, Innovation and Networks and The Crown Estate, who have selected Martello Quays Ltd - a partnership between Conygar Investment Company Ltd, private Welsh based developers and Vinci Project Development Ltd, a Vinci PLC subsidiary - as the developer.

Norwest Construction Ltd, a Vinci PLC subsidiary, has been nominated as the main contractor for the development.

Milford Haven Port Authority Chairman Bob Clarke said the scheme as proposed looked very achievable and capable of bringing substantial benefits to the town.

“I am particularly impressed by the efforts to make the marina an integral part of the town centre and the amount of additional access to the waterfront that all residents of Pembroke Dock would enjoy,” he said.

Ted Sangster, Chief Executive of Milford Haven Port Authority, welcomed the submission of the planning application as a major step forward. “This is the result of many years of hard work behind the scenes and a heavy investment and commitment by the Martello Quays Ltd to get this far,” he said.

He added that the planning application was a major milestone and had involved a lot of technical study and assessment. The developers had discussed their approach and proposals with the Design Commission for Wales and taken on board many of its comments, together with those received to date from the community.

“All of us involved are committed to further local consultations during the planning process, and the developers are also intending to make themselves available in April for “drop-in” consultation sessions with the public and to meet key groups in the town,” he added.

The scheme is based on a high degree of public access to all areas with a new public promenade from Hobbs Point, crossing the lock entrance to get to Front Street and Commercial Row. In addition, there will be extensive access for the public throughout the marina, with a number of viewing points incorporated within the new harbour.

“Whilst the planning application is actually for the detail of the engineering works such as the sea wall and lock,” said Mr Sangster, “most public interest will probably be in the accompanying design document.

“This sets out proposals for 450 homes, mainly apartments, but including some 140 houses each with a waterfront view and potential marina berth. It also indicates a small specialist retail development linked to the existing town centre, a cinema, hotel and provision for public parking in a decked car park.

“The Front Street frontage remains largely as at present, with the marina management and boat related activities housed in this area,” he said.

Space for over 350 boats is envisaged with facilities for visiting yachts. Mr Sangster added that the provision of berths for this number of boats in the Haven would be a significant boost for the Welsh Assembly Government’s policy to increase the use of the Welsh coastline as a base for sailing, with the Haven itself playing a key role in this strategy.

He added that he imagined consideration of this planning application was likely to take some six months, after which, if successful, the Developers would need to resolve a number of financial, legal and other issues before they were able to start.