Sutton Harbour : Call for ‘bold approach’ to realising city’s ambitions

Planners are being urged to make 'brave decisions' and take a 'bold approach' to job creation and economic development if Plymouth is to realise its potential as Britain's Ocean City and make the most of the Mayflower 400 celebrations.

The comments come from waterside regeneration and destination creation specialists Sutton Harbour Holdings plc in response to Plymouth City Council's consultation on the draft Plymouth Plan Part 2 proposals for the city's waterfront.

The Plan will provide a blueprint for how the city should develop to 2031 and identifies the waterfront as strategically important to improving the visitor experience and sustaining fishing, marine and defence jobs in the city.

Sutton Harbour Holdings plc owns and operates two marinas at Sutton Harbour and King Point at Millbay, as well as Plymouth Fisheries, the second largest fishing port in England. Between them these activities sustain 770 jobs, adding £28 million to the local economy every year.

The company has also published its Vision for Sutton Harbour, which involves bringing redundant sites around the Harbour back into economic use. It proposes £75 million of new homes, offices, retail and leisure space supporting 900 new jobs and generating a further £34 million for Plymouth's economy every year.

Commenting on the draft Plymouth Plan Part 2 for the waterfront area, Jon Turner, Director of Projects at Sutton Harbour Holdings plc, said: 'There is much to commend this part of the plan and we broadly support its objectives because it recognises the crucial role the waterfront plays in driving our city's economy.

'We have made a number of suggestions for inclusion in the plan, including more emphasis on the importance of Plymouth Fisheries and the marinas for sustaining jobs; recognising Sutton Harbour as a major venue for events including the Transat and Classic Boat Rally; and the contribution redundant sites around the Harbour can make to realising growth, jobs and new homes.'

Mr Turner added: 'Successful delivery of the Plan may at times require brave decisions and a bold approach if Plymouth is to achieve its potential as Britain's Ocean City, but we are ready to work alongside the local authority and other stakeholders and play our part in delivering the Plan's ambitions for the waterfront.'

Sutton Harbour Holdings plc has commented separately on the Plymouth Plan for the north of the city, arguing that the former airport site should be included in the Plan because of its potential to deliver homes, jobs and tens of millions of pounds a year for the city's economy.

This in turn could accelerate investment in the city's waterfront, in time for the Mayflower 400 celebrations in 2020, the Company said.