East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Bridlington Harbour Commissioners have appointed internationally-renowned professional services firm Arup to undertake project design and pre-construction work for the Yorkshire Harbour and Marina Project.
Funded by a £3.5 million Local Growth Fund grant, awarded by the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Enterprise Partnership, Arup will start work in March and will provide a design for the preferred concept, advice on potential funding sources, preparation of papers to support any statutory orders and consents and the development of tender documentation for the project’s construction. This work is anticipated to take until late 2018 to complete.
Working in partnership with Bridlington Harbour Commissioners both organisations now have a preferred concept that suggests retaining the commercial fishing fleet in the existing harbour and creating the marina in the proposed new harbour.
Whilst maintaining the same footprint as the original outline in the Bridlington Area Action Plan (AAP), this option has a number of benefits, including reducing the disruption to the fishing fleet, requiring a less substantial form of construction for the new outer pier, reducing the need for dredging the existing harbour and shortening the construction timescale. It also reduces the estimated cost.
Councillor Stephen Parnaby OBE, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said:
“A project of this scale takes time and there are a number of milestones to pass. The appointment of Arup to provide the design concept and undertake pre-construction works is the next stage in the process.
“Arup are known around the globe and have been involved in a number of marine and maritime projects, including the expansion of Aberdeen Harbour and upgrade works to St Helier Marina in Jersey.
“The realisation of the Yorkshire Harbour and Marina would be a real game changer for the Bridlington and would help unlock the economic potential of both the town and the Holderness Coast.”
Chris Wright, chairman of Bridlington Harbour Commissioners, said:
“The appointment of Arup to produce a design concept for the Yorkshire Harbour and Marina is welcomed by the Bridlington Harbour Commissioners and we look forward to seeing them develop a design that meets the requirements of all parties involved.
“Working together with the council, we are seeing good progress being made in bringing this project forward and are now a stage nearer to seeing this come to fruition.”
David Dickson, chair of the Infrastructure Board from the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Enterprise Partnership (LEP), which directs investment in key sites and infrastructure to grow the local economy, said: “The Yorkshire Harbour & Marina is a key project supporting economic growth along the Yorkshire Coast, which is a priority for the LEP.
“The preparatory stage can now move forward without delay as result of investment through the Local Growth Fund, and the LEP is pleased to support the continued partnership working which stands to bring this long awaited project to fruition.
“Building on the success of Bridlington Harbour, which is the largest shellfish landing port in the UK, the impact on Bridlington’s economy, as a result of the Yorkshire Harbour & Marina project going ahead, is potentially transformational.”
Neville Long, project director at Arup, said:
“We are delighted to have been appointed as masterplanners and consulting engineers. The marina and harbour is a key driver in Bridlington’s regeneration and economic development – so we are looking forward to taking this exciting project through to its next stages.”
