Plans for consulting the public on the future
development of Weston-super-Mare were given the go-ahead today
(Tuesday 9 June).
The executive considered
a report on the council's
preferred policy approach to the regeneration of Weston's town
centre (this document is called the Weston Town Centre Area Action
Plan Preferred Options).
Cllr Elfan Ap Rees, deputy leader and executive member whose
portfolio includes strategic planning, said: "This shows that we
are a forward-thinking authority and that we have a clear vision
about the regeneration of the town centre, where we want to see
further significant improvements in terms of its retail, employment
and tourism offer. We need it to be a busy, family-friendly centre
in which people want to live, work and spend their leisure
time.
"We are thinking beyond the recession and this process will see
us well-positioned to move quickly when the economy takes an upward
turn. The proposals in the report consider a wider approach,
by development type, rather than a piecemeal site-by-site analysis,
and we are keen to hear people's views.
"Having a clear policy framework for the future will make us
more attractive to potential developers who are looking to invest,
particularly in terms of large retail, leisure and office
developments, and allows us to have a sensible and strategic
dialogue with them."
The area action plan identifies 15 sites for redevelopment or
improvement including Birnbeck Island, Victoria Square, Dolphin
Square and a number of sites around the railway station and the
entrance to the town.
The plan aims to improve the retail, tourist and leisure
facilities as well as there being more employment and residential
development in the town centre. Improvement to the public realm and
better access from the town centre to the seafront also form key
proposals in the plan.
In total the plan proposes more than 80,000 square metres of
office employment, 26,000 square metres of retail floorspace and
2,000 residential units.
Public consultation on the Weston Town Centre Area Action Plan
will run from 13 July until 4 September when there will be a series
of exhibitions when the public will be able to have a say and
influence the future of the town. The plan is part of a wider
set of proposals for the future of Weston-super-Mare and the
district as a whole and there will be the opportunity for people to
have their say on it later in the year.
