Herne operation
Herne Bay needs its disparate attractions to be connected up to fulfil its retail and leisure potential.
Herne Bay may not possess the fashionable oyster bars found in neighbouring Whitstable. Nor does it have links to one of England's finest painters, JMW Turner, or an impressive sandy bay, both of which nearby Margate can boast.
Herne Bay, with its modest pebble beach, still oozes charm. Yet, like so many other seaside towns, it needs regeneration.
Last month, Canterbury City Council completed the public consultation for an area action plan to rejuvenate Herne Bay, which has suffered a gradual decline in tourist and shopper numbers. There are development opportunities on key Town Centre sites and plans to improve connections between retail, leisure and tourist attractions, which are so spread out it is hard to find a focal point.
The most important site is the ‘central development area'. The council began to market the 6.2 acre site last autumn and, despite the recession, received numerous enquiries. It has shortlisted proposals for the second stage of the selection process and aims to select a preferred developer, or developers, before the end of the year.
The site is in the centre of town, so a suitable scheme should link the main shopping streets - High Street and Mortimer Street - to the 16 acre Memorial Park. The council has been upgrading the park with a new youth and children's centre, and also plans a children's play area to complement the park's tennis courts, playing fields and duck pond. However, it is still possible to visit Herne Bay's town centre or seafront and remain unaware of this attractive feature.
The council also wants more large shops to attract national multiple retailers. Herne Bay has bustling streets full of independent retailers with only a few voids - even the Woolworths store was quickly snapped up by Iceland. But national retailers are thin on the ground and there are too many charity shops and discount stores to inspire any shopper to dwell for long.
Leakage battle
‘We want to create something that will halt the retail leakage out of the town. And, ideally, a new town square,' explains Martin Bovingdon, estates and valuations manager at Canterbury City Council. ‘The town has the potential capacity to expand its offer, which is being lost to other centres.'
Herne Bay only retains 31p in every pound generated, and any scheme will be expected to increase this dismal figure. ‘The first battle is to attract the 38,000 or so people that live in Herne Bay back into their own town,' says Patrick Rynne, the council's senior project manager, who is responsible for regeneration in the town. ‘Once we've done that, then boosting tourism will take care of itself.'
The central development site comprises two council-owned car parks, a Morrisons supermarket that could be reconfigured and the Herons Centre, which has a swimming pool, cinema and council offices, and which is due to be upgraded with more public facilities.
The council is deliberately not being too specific about the site but wants mixed use with retail, and commercial, leisure and residential.
Next to the central development area is the 1.3 acre Stagecoach-owned bus maintenance depot. Stagecoach has already identified a new site near the town's rail station but will not relocate until it has received the sale proceeds for its existing site. It is ideal for a mix of uses - particularly retail - and Sainsbury's is thought to have shown interest.
Another strategic development, albeit smaller, is on Beach Street. As its name suggests, the street was intended to connect shopping and residential areas to the seafront. However, it is dominated by two public car parks and ends as an unattractive cul de sac.
The council wants the 0.44 acre site redeveloped as a public car park and adjoining premises with a possible second phase on the 0.32 acre adjacent second car park. It would prefer a developer to work with property owners so that Beach Street can finally fulfil its role and punch through to the seafront.
And here the town faces its most challenging opportunity. The seafront is dominated by the Pier Pavilion, which opened in 1976. It houses public leisure facilities such as a roller-skating rink, squash courts and a fitness centre, rather than tourist attractions.
The council is building a sports village to be shared with Herne Bay High School in 2011, and the extended Heron Centre will ensure the town's sports and leisure needs are fulfilled - so the Pier Pavilion could house new facilities, or be redeveloped. The Herne Bay Pier Trust has been set up to explore any future options.
The council will hope that the town centre redevelopments will be linked to a revamped pier, making Herne Bay whole again.
Source: Property Week
