Cautious welcome for £100m marina scheme

10:00am Tuesday 27th February 2007

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A £100 million waterfront development could soon become a reality after plans for the Martello Quays project in Pembroke Dock were submitted.

Plans submitted to Pembrokeshire County Council include a 260-berth marina, 450 homes, shops, 250 parking spaces and a hotel complex.

Developer Martello Quays hopes the new waterfront project will become a fully integrated part of the Pembroke Dock community.

The partnership between private Welsh developers Conygar Investment Company and Vinci Project Development also expects the marina to provide a significant flood protection function.

A spokesman said environmental issues will be considered and designs aim to minimise the amount of dredging required.

He said: "The new homes will pay careful attention in their design to energy efficiency standards and effective use of resources."

Milford Haven Port Authority is backing the development, with chairman Bob Clarke saying the scheme is capable of bringing substantial benefits to the town.

Chief executive Ted Sangster said: "All of us involved are committed to further local consultations during the planning process and the developers are intending to make themselves available in April for drop-in consultation sessions with the public and to meet key groups in the town."

He described the planning application as a "major milestone" involving a lot of technical study and assessment and many years of hard work.

Mr Sangster said the planning process is likely to take about six months and, if successful, will lead to other financial and legal issues which have to be resolved before work can start.

Norwest Construction has been nominated as the main contractor.The marina development is expected to include: 450 homes made up of apartments and 140 houses with water front views and potential marina berths; 260 marina berths; a hotel complex with a five-screen multiplex cinema, pub, restaurant and shops; 250 parking spaces; a new public promenade from Hobbs Point, crossing the lock entrance to Front Street and Commercial Row; extensive public access to the waterfront - including viewing points in the new harbour; a factory outlet; a chandlery shop.

A cautious welcome

AM Christine Gwyther: "I am giving the marina a cautious welcome.The scheme will create an interesting waterfront, and the newest plans have much greater public access to the walkways and the front.It is important the marina feels like "ours", rather than a mini town plonked on the front of Pembroke Dock.

"Proper consultation is paramount.Local people will have strong views and good ideas on how to get the best design and outcome for Pembroke Dock.We need to make sure the marina really delivers what we want and what the town needs."

Pembroke Dock mayor, Sue Perkins: "This will be wonderful for Pembroke Dock. It is very early days and full consultation needs to be carried out.

"I hope, in the future, there will be funding for the town itself, not just the development on its own.

"This should be a truly integrated Pembroke Dock development."

Paul Weatherall, mayor elect of Pembroke Dock: "I'm all for it, although there are some reservations that need to be discussed as to how the development will affect the town and the people already living here.

"One big concern is the long term parking area on the west side of West Street. If parking charges are brought in and this area is lost, there will be nowhere in for people who drive into the town to work to park for the day."

What do you think of the proposed marina development? Will it benefit Pembroke Dock or just the chosen few?

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