Harbour Development
SHRA's Concepts
The Eleven Sites are the remaining undeveloped parcels of land at Sovereign Harbour. This page outlines SHRA's vision for future development and offers some ideas of how some of these sites could be planned.
The Missing Social Infrastructure
Sovereign Harbour has been massively overdeveloped in many areas, whilst the construction of the social infrastructure has been largely ignored. The land owners, Carillion, are still intent on obtaining consent for further residential development.
The ‘Eleven Sites’, have huge potential for thoughtful development that will benefit the community, while at the same time allowing Carillion to make a reasonable return on its investment. Sovereign Harbour could still become the ‘Jewel in the Crown’ of Eastbourne.
A Sustainable Community
SHRA believes that the current situation is unsustainable without the social infrastructure that should have been provided for a development of this size. It also believes that, if the current development is unsustainable, further residential development would be totally inappropriate.
EBC Endorses SHRA's view
SHRA's position on future development was seemingly endorsed by Eastbourne Borough Council in the following motion, agreed at its meeting on 20th September 2006.
“Following the refusal of the recent applications for the remaining five development sites in Sovereign Harbour, this council recognises that the Humberts report has now been superseded. The Council therefore requests a high level meeting with the landowner, council members, planning officers, and representatives of local residents, to develop a strategy for the remaining development sites.
Such a strategy should acknowledge Sovereign Harbour Ltd’s commercial demands, but shouldn’t include further residential development. The strategy should address much needed community facilities, such as open space, play areas, a community centre, a medical centre, schools, facilities for the boating community and potential business opportunities, in keeping with the area, including a quality hotel.
The council recognises that the available land for development is limited and should be considered as a whole to effectively provide for a sustainable community.”
SHRA's 'Community with a Heart'
It is recognised that the land owners should be allowed a financial return on their investment, but the massive overdevelopment has already provided a windfall much larger than they could ever have imagined. With this in mind, members of the SHRA committee have examined the possible uses of the land, and have produced imaginative proposals that would result in a 'win-win' outcome.
The proposals shown in the drawings below are SHRA's concept of how the Sovereign Harbour project could be completed to the benefit of all interested parties; the land owners, the Borough Council and, above all, the harbour residents who have invested so much of their hard-earned money into their homes.
The drawings show SHRA's initial ideas of how some of the land could be used; they should be regarded as a starting point for future discussion and planning.
Imagine a Better Harbour - Drawings of SHRA's Concept
To view a larger (pdf) version of a drawing,
click anywhere on the pictures below
(will open in new window). Drawings courtesy of and copyright © John
O'Hara.
▲ Site One, Langney Point, which was always designated for a high-quality hotel development to match the Grand Hotel at the western end of the town. It also presents superb opportunities for recreation and leisure, with stunning views over the sea and the town.
▲ The drawing above, and the three below, show Sites Three and Four that are beside The Waterfront.
By combining these two sites, and moving the boatyard to the commercial area, where it really belongs, the opportunity is presented to build a 'village centre' that would feature shops, restaurants and open space that would be an attraction for Eastbourne residents and tourists alike.
It would give the harbour the heart that the developers have so far failed to provide, and create the sustainable community that everybody wants, and in which they could take pride.
▲ First impressions are vitally important if visitors to the harbour are to be encouraged to return. This drawing shows one possible view.
▲ Any village needs a centre, and the Sovereign Harbour Marina Village is no exception. In our view, the village centre should be a vibrant mix of shops and restaurants, with enough open space for visitors to stroll at their leisure. It should also provide the open space necessary to hold social events and, for example, visiting markets.
▲ Many visitors to Sovereign Harbour first arrive by boat. It is, therefore, essential that the village centre should look attractive from the water of the harbour. And those boats, of which Sovereign Harbour has plenty, are an added attraction for visitors. For that reason alone, the waterfront areas must be open, accessible to visitors and well maintained.
If you have any news or comments about future development of the Harbour, we would be pleased to hear them. Please e-mail us at: info@shra.co.uk
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