Permissions sought for Cowes Outer Harbour Project
by Peta Stuart-Hunt 21 Jul 2009 09:21 BST
Cowes Harbour Commission has received an application for a Cowes Harbour Works and Dredge Consent from SEEDA (South East England Development Agency) for the Outer Harbour Project.
The Harbour Works consent is one of three permissions required for the Project, the others being:
- Consent under the Food & Environment Protection Act, issued by the Marine and Fisheries Agency;
Planning Permission from the Isle of Wight Council.
The components of the plan are:
- Construction of a new rock mound breakwater and a short extension to the Shrape breakwater to create a properly protected outer harbour for the benefit of both East Cowes and Cowes;
- A marina of 300 permanent berths with separate dedicated provision of visitor and event berths to support the waterfront re-generation of East Cowes;
- Dredging of a new eastern channel to improve vessel safety within the harbour, especially during major yachting events such as Cowes Week and the annual Round the Island Race.
Full details of the proposed Outer Harbour Project application and supporting documents can be found at
Cowes Online and are also available to view in hard copy at the Harbour Office, Town Quay, Cowes.
The Public Exhibition held in East Cowes over 13th and 14th July was well attended with around 275 visitors, the vast majority of whom were East Cowes residents. By and large the comments were favourable and the proposed plans were seen as a positive step towards the future regeneration of East Cowes. There have undoubtedly been some frustrations over the delay in delivery of the shoreside work however, the Marina could prove to be the catalyst to getting the whole programme off the ground.
SEEDA will shortly commence going to the open market to invite expressions of interest to invest in the OHP and the unique opportunity to develop a 300+ marina berth facility in the heart of the Solent.
SEEDA and CHC will be meeting with representatives of the Cowes Yacht Clubs on 23rd July to explain in detail the proposed plan for the OHP with particular reference to tides, moorings, yacht racing and sedimentation issues.
Timeline/Process
- Registered date of application was 15th July 2009.
- Latest determination (decision) date is 15th October 2009 - a statutory 3-month period.
Provisional Determination. The application is scheduled to be considered by the Commissioners at their Board Meeting on September 25th 2009.
Comments/objections to be received no later than the 1st September 2009 in writing to: Cowes Harbour Master, Harbour Office, Cowes, Isle of Wight PO31 7AS.
Meanwhile, the OHP Video made by Cowes TV and available to watch and download at www.cowes.co.uk has been downloaded by over 1,000 people, an impressive figure by anyone’s standards.