Cowes Outer Harbour Project, Cowes Harbour, Isle of Wight
- Client:
- South East England Development Agency (SEEDA)
- Project Team:
- SEEDA, Cowes Harbour Commissioners (CHC), ABPmer
- Services required:
- Feasibility studies and market research,
- Business planning,
- Marina design,
- Project management
Scheme description
Cowes sits at the head of the Medina River and its strategic location with direct access into the Solent has made it a world renowned leisure boating centre.
The Cowes Outer Harbour Project seeks to support the regeneration of East Cowes and also to make Cowes a true harbour, providing additional protection and increasing the usability and long-term potential of the Outer Harbour area. The Project is the result of years of intensive partnership work between the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) and Cowes Harbour Commission- see CHC's web page for further details.
SEEDA and Cowes Harbour Commissioners combined vision for the estuary is realised through the Cowes Outer Harbour Project, which comprises three main elements:
- A system of wave protection to create a properly protected outer harbour for the benefit of both Cowes and East Cowes. This consists of a new rubble mound outer breakwater and a short extension to an existing breakwater structure.
- A marina of 300 permanent berths with separate dedicated provision of visitor and event berths to support the waterfront regeneration of East Cowes.
- Dredging of a new eastern channel to improve vessel safety within the harbour, and address capacity issues especially during major yachting events such as Cowes Week and the annual Round the Island Race.
Role of Marina Projects
Having worked separately for SEEDA and CHC on earlier feasibility studies which set the scene for this holistic project, Marina Projects were commissioned by SEEDA to take an active role in the delivery of the Project. The key element of Marina Projects involvement can be summarised as:
- Market assessment and viability study
- Design of the marina, and input into the wider scheme layout i.e. breakwater and Eastern Channel positioning
- Co-ordination of the comprehensive Environmental Statement
- Management of the marine consents process
- Input to the project consultation
- Procurement advice - to select a developer/operator partner
The scheme has been developed over a long period and by involving a number of key consultees throughout the process and establishing a clear consent strategy Marina Projects has achieved the aim of introducing a well considered scheme that has been communicated to the widest group of stakeholders before being introduced into the consent application process.
Working with the client and professional team the following key issues have been overcome:-
- Orientation, position and composition of the breakwater.
- Realignment of the eastern channel to avoid sensitive and protected seagrass beds at the entrance of the Medina estuary.
- Timing of the works to ensure the disturbance to the town, the Harbour and the designated sites are minimised.
- Provision of sufficient moorings to accommodate day class fleets.
- Establishment of a clear consent strategy and management of the expectations of the Regulators and other interested parties.
The most recent focus has been progressing the scheme through the consents process. Working alongside ABPmer an Environmental Statement was prepared to address the requirements of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations and this has been submitted to the Regulators as part of the consent and license applications.
To view the Environmental Documents on the CHC website please click HERE and scroll down the page for the pdf versions.
In addition to the consents process Marina Projects assisted in the public exhibition undertaken by SEEDA with the intention of communicating the aims of the scheme. We have also worked alongside SEEDA and CHC to present the scheme to the numerous yacht clubs, and on a separate occasion the fishermen, based in Cowes and East Cowes.
Now that the application process is well underway Marina Projects are assisting SEEDA in the procurement of a marina operator/developer partner.
By virtue of its scale the procurement process is subject to the EU procurement rules and the negotiated procedure is being used. Marina Projects has been responsible for the following:-
- Preparation of Pre-qualification and Tender documents.
- Co-ordination of scoring and evaluation process.
- Dealing with tender period enquiries .
- Negotiations and discussions with project partners.
- Preparation of legal frameworks.