The Government has announced that all Regional Development Agencies (RDAs), including SEEDA, will close by 31 March 2012.
Responsibility for economic development and regeneration in England is being passed onto successor bodies, including Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and central Government departments
Our objective is to ensure a professional and cost effective closure by this date. We have pledged to work closely with our partners, contractors and stakeholders to ensure that the past and future economic benefits of key programmes and assets continue to deliver the greatest economic value for the South East and value for money for the taxpayer.
Please click here for more details about our closure plan, transition arrangements and successor organisations.
In action: Hampire and Isle of Wight: Cowes
Cowes Waterfront Initiative is a comprehensive regeneration strategy for the Medina Valley, intended to create jobs, attract private investment and bring new facilities to communities.
The Cowes Waterfront Initiative has four elements:
- Business - providing resources and infrastructure for businesses to grow and expand
- Communities - creating job opportunities and enhancing community living with improved amenities
- Environment - maintaining and enhancing the unique environmental resources of the Medina Valley
- Infrastructure - bringing under-used and derelict sites and premises back into productive use
The partners have agreed a Strategic Development Framework to carry forward the Initiative based on a comprehensive review of the area. This sets out recommendations to make the best use of the available land to deliver the greatest most beneficial impact for the economy and the environment. There are five themed zones and 25 key sites.
East Cowes Project
The East Cowes Project is the flagship project of the Cowes Waterfront Initiative. It is a visionary plan to regenerate the town centre of East Cowes, by improving employment prospects and creating a superb new waterfront for residents and visitors alike. The project presents a unique opportunity to improve East Cowes, secure new investment and provide an enhanced gateway to the Island.
Working in partnership with the Homes and Community Agency (HCA), SEEDA has undertaken extensive consultation with the local community, business and key stakeholders. This has informed the masterplan for the development.
A new Waitrose foodstore opened to the public in November 2010 together with a new town square. Plans for a further mixed-use building facing the square will be submitted for planning permission by the end of 2011. Work has also commenced on a new Medical Centre for the town, which is expected to complete in June 2012. http://glo:20078/sites/micor/sw/forms/article.aspx?id+20, and an Energy Centre which will generate electricity for the foodstore using heat recycling and biomass technology is also underway and will be completed in 2012. http://www.waitrose.presscentre.com/press-releases/waitrose-opens-first-store-on-the-Isle-of-Wight-67c.aspx
The HCA has selected David Wilson Homes as it's residential developer for the first phase of new homes which comprises some 180 units on the western side of the site, 30% of them affordable being developed in partnership with Spectrum Housing. Work commenced on the housing in 2012 and is expected to be complete by 2014.
Key Facts:
- 16 ha (40 acres)
- mixed-use development
- 10,500 m2 (113,021 sq. ft) of marine workspace
- Potential for up to 500 new homes
- 4,500 m2 (48,400 sq. ft) of retail (including a food store), bars and restaurants
- health and community facilities
- a Maritime Heritage Experience
- potential for two hotels
- a flood defence plan for the town centre
Cowes Outer Harbour Project
The Cowes Outer Harbour Project (OHP) 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 SEEDA and Cowes Harbour Commission. A brief summary of the project is provided below including an update on progress and changes and a proposed timetable for moving forward.
During the past 12-18 months, significant work has been undertaken to consider the full range of benefits and also the impacts arising from the scheme. This has included consultation with a broad range of Regulators and Stakeholders, as well as extensive surveys of the site. All of this work has shaped the development of the scheme design.
More information is available at the Cowes Harbour Commission website.
