Exmouth Watersports Centre developers carry out investigative work
Pioneering, sustainable developers, Grenadier Estates, has carried out investigative work at its site on Exmouth Waterfront, in order to inform its latest set of plans for a world class, environmentally friendly watersports centre for the town.
The not-for-profit development has been scaled back and redefined since the initial round of plans submitted three years ago. To ensure as little impact to the local community, the Queen’s Drive park remained open, with a small road diversion put in place to allow full access to the site, whilst limiting disruption to traffic. The works, which included boreholes in the Queen’s Drive area, had all necessary health and safety assessments and insurances put in place to ensure no risk to the public.
Director of Grenadier Estates, Peter Quincey, explains: “The site investigations carried out will help us to precisely determine the ground conditions, which in turn will inform the foundation design and layout of the new Watersports centre. We very much look forward to presenting our exciting design to Exmouth residents in due course.”
Their plans will soon go before the public for a full consultation where everyone will be able to see the new designs of the building and give feedback, in a series of workshops. Following consultation by the developers, a planning application will go before East Devon District Council’s Development Management Committee where the public will be given a further opportunity to have their say.
Peter continues: “Having input from the people of Exmouth is essential, as we hope to create a centre that is very much at the heart of the community and will provide amenities that are currently lacking. The free changing rooms will offer hot showers heated by the sun and family friendly facilities. The current car park will be transformed into a multi-use green space, which we hope will offer the opportunity to host community events, such as food and drink festivals.
“Our aim is to develop a site that has a very small carbon footprint, thus reducing the impact of the building to both land and marine environments.”
Whilst Grenadier are funding the construction of the building, it will be transferred into a community interest company, allowing for future community projects and making the project of key interest to locals. As a non-profit venture, all funds will be fed back into the centre and community for years to come.
The developers have been keen to stress that they are responsible for only one section of the land undergoing development on the waterfront. As well as a new car park, there is another site, set to be a mixed leisure use park which will be taken forward by other developers.
