Solent Waterfront Strategy wins Top Award
9 February 2010The Solent Waterfront Strategy, led by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), has won the Award for Spatial Strategy at the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Awards. The strategy will support marine industry growth and safeguard sites that are essential in developing the marine sector.
Working across South Hants, the Isle of Wight and Chichester, the strategy is built on qualitative research and addresses issues that have prevented the sector from prospering. The strategy was prepared by Adams Hendry Consulting Ltd, in collaboration with WS Atkins and Marina Projects Ltd, and commissioned by SEEDA.
Robert Crawford, SEEDA’s Group Executive Director for Operations, said: “The Solent Waterfront Strategy will contribute towards delivering job creation and further establish the region as a global competitor within the marine sector. The sector is entering an exciting phase and this strategy has already informed the regional policy and decision making process. We fully support this groundbreaking piece of work, which will see one of the Solent and South East’s key industries continue to flourish.”
The strategy has inspired businesses from different sectors and stakeholders, who have worked together to help retain and grow the marine sector. The strategy will also influence future land use and sector-led projects.
On receiving the Award Martin Hendry, Director at Adams Hendry Consulting Ltd, commented: "I'm absolutely delighted that the Solent Waterfront Strategy has been nationally recognised by the RTPI for its robust, evidence-based analysis. The strategy explores the potential of marine industries as wealth generators of the future and we applaud SEEDA and its partners for driving forward the Strategy's recommendations."
Jonathan Williams, Chief Executive of Marine South East, added: "Over recent years the loss of waterfront sites has been a barrier to marine sector growth as companies have been denied locations for expansion and inward investment. The Solent Waterfront Strategy will ensure that waterfront sites are retained for marine industrial use and we have enjoyed working with Adams Hendry to make this a reality."
The marine industry is critical to the economy of the Solent area, employing around 38,000 people. The number of jobs is expected to rise to 58,600 by 2026.
Kay Powell, Chair of the Judging Panel for the RTPI 2009 Planning Awards, concluded: “The Solent Waterfront Strategy is an exceptionally innovative route-map for the future development of Southampton’s waterfront and the wider region, shaping an area in which 1.2 million people live. This is the first time that such a comprehensive plan for developing marine and marine-related industries around the Solent has been put in place, and it has helped to change conventional thinking about the region’s future.”
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