£75 million makeover for Plymouth's Sutton Harbour26th November 2012

Ambitious plans to transform Sutton Harbour in Plymouth into a national destination were unveiled today. 

New restaurants, cafés, shops, offices and apartments will transform underused sites around the harbour, creating a rival to the likes of Albert Dock in Liverpool and St Katharine Docks in the City of London.

The plans are backed by a new marketing and branding campaign urging visitors to ‘Experience Sutton Harbour’ as one of the UK’s most attractive waterfront locations.

They build on 20 years of award-winning development in the Harbour, which has already created a 490-berth marina, quality apartments, visitor attractions, fish market, offices and leisure and retail space.

A masterplan for a further 350,000 sq ft of mixed-use projects with an indicative development value of around £75 million spanning 12 potential sites was unveiled today by Plymouth-based Sutton Harbour Holdings Plc.

The Stock Market listed company owns the Harbour and aims to be the leading marine, waterfront regeneration and destination specialist in Southern England.

Chief Executive Jason Schofield said: “This marks the next exciting chapter in the development and celebration of Sutton Harbour as a national destination and focal point in Plymouth’s world class waterfront.

“It is about embracing the waterfront as the city’s best asset and keeping in touch with the water’s edge, positioning Sutton Harbour as a day out destination with the National Marine Aquarium and Barbican Leisure Park to the east, the historic Barbican district to the south and the city centre immediately to the north.”

Mr Schofield said the masterplan aimed to create an unbroken trail around the entire harbour to join together existing points of interest. This would include a new boardwalk at Little Vauxhall Quay in the Harbour’s north-east quadrant as part of a family restaurant-led development overlooking the water.

He said an outline planning application for this scheme would be submitted to Plymouth City Council in the next few weeks, with interest already being shown from potential occupiers.

Mr Schofield added that the Experience Sutton Harbour marketing campaign would begin in earnest in the spring, and in the meantime an interim website had been launched at www.experiencesuttonharbour.co.uk

The masterplan and Experience campaign have been welcomed in Plymouth.

Chris Arscott, Chairman of the Plymouth Waterfront Partnership, said: “Our business plan aims to boost annual visitor spend by 25 per cent and market Plymouth’s waterfront as a regional and national destination. We are also keen to see the growth of local jobs in the visitor economy, so these proposals are a perfect fit. Sutton Harbour Holdings Plc is an important contributor and member of the PWP and we continue to work closely with them.”

Dr David Gibson, Managing Director of the National Marine Aquarium in Sutton Harbour, said: “These plans will hopefully boost footfall in and around Sutton Harbour which will be good news for all local businesses, including ours. I’m especially encouraged by the desire to ensure that the Harbour plays a stronger part in the tourism offer of the city and that the links with neighbouring attractions, including the Barbican, city centre and leisure park, are strengthened.”

Duncan Currall, Chairman of Destination Plymouth, said: “Sutton Harbour is a great asset in the waterfront and has a very important role to play as we promote Plymouth on a wider stage. I’m encouraged by the breadth of these plans and the diversity of uses because a dynamic waterfront economy is one of our key objectives.”

John Westwell, Managing Partner of South West regional law firm Foot Anstey, which has its headquartered in Sutton Harbour, said: “We relocated our head office to Sutton Harbour in 2009 and it has proved to be an ideal city centre location for us and our clients. We look forward to the continued transformation of Sutton Harbour as a jewel in Plymouth’s waterfront that attracts investment and creates opportunity.”

Anthony Payne, Director for Place at Plymouth City Council added: “While the detail of any future planning applications will have to be considered by the planning committee, as a Council that’s committed to more jobs and making the most of our assets to encourage visitors, this is an incredibly exciting direction. Plymouth’s waterfront is a great destination in its own right and this plan will help the city capitalise on a real gem.”

Sutton Harbour Holdings Plc is also developing the new 171-berth King Point Marina at the former Millbay Docks in Plymouth, which is being transformed into a new waterfront quarter by lead developer English Cities Fund, and the Homes and Communities Agency. Work on the marina and its shoreside facilities starts in the New Year.