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Exciting plans released for the Bay area

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Today plans have been released for the Bay area which will help the Business community and local people; bringing investment and facilities, developing more profitable markets and increasing job opportunities for local people.

The Isle of Wight Economic Partnership co-ordinate the Bay Regeneration project, which represents the interests of the area, and works with the Council, Tourism, Businesses and local community groups. They have developed a vision to create a modern beach front, to improve the area for the residents.

The overall aims are to create a modern beach front, which will increase spend per head, attract new residents, visitors and businesses, but also to ensure that the beautiful natural environment is better reflected in the design of everything from new developments and building improvements to public spaces.

The plan focuses on improving the quality of tourism to assist local businesses in gaining higher profits and extending their season. This will improve job opportunities for local residents. Promotion of the natural environment of the Bay, outdoor activities, watersports, cultural and leisure events will provide an excellent platform to advertise the Bay to potential new businesses, such as creative industries who are able to work remotely, again bringing increased job opportunities to the area.

The plans are to attract a diversification of visitors, which will extend the season so Businesses are able to generate greater wealth. However, IWEP recognise it is important that this works alongside the current visitors and traditional family holiday’s seen within the Bay.

Mike King, Isle of Wight Economic Partnership said: "The Bay is surrounded by a beautiful natural environment, and is a short distance from much of the South East. It's an ideal retreat for busy professionals and families alike. We believe in involving the community in this project, from school children to local businesses."

To summarise the Bay Regeneration Group aims to:

• Aspire to a modern, contemporary beach resort
• Ensure the built environment and facilities match the quality of the natural environment
• Increase spend per head by attracting both new visitors, residents and businesses
• Focus on improving the quality of the tourism product to assist local businesses in gaining higher profits, extending their season
• Improving job opportunities of local residents
• Promote the natural environment, outdoor activities and watersports, and cultural / leisure events
• Use tourism as an excellent platform to advertise the Bay to potential new businesses – such as creative industries who are able to work remotely – again bringing increased job opportunities to the area.

Mike King, Isle of Wight Economic Partnership said:

“We aim to bring an increase in job opportunities and wealth amongst the local community. We want more thought to go into building design and concepts for the residents, so the built environment will better reflect the natural environment. We have confidence in our ability to deliver this project, over the past 5 years we have attracted business investment worth £61 million to the Island, and secured more than £23 million of Government funding for regeneration initiatives.”

Following this work by IWEP, the Bay Area Action plan was launched by the Council, which will form the basis for the Bay regeneration project and act as a planning guide. The AAP will look at the current situation in detail by combining both Economic and Tourism data; it addresses areas requiring improvements and ways of achieving these aims.

This consultation was launched during the first week in July, and was a huge success for the Council. The Local community embraced the initial report and are really excited about the future. The public consultation is set to be completed by 18th August 2006, with the final document available by February 2007 (and adopted in 2008).

For further information, please contact:

Gail Hensler, Bay Regeneration Project Manager – 01983 535884 or gail.hensler@iwep.com
For information about the Bay Area Action Plan – 01983 821000 or planning.policy@iow.gov.uk

Or to view the AAP documents please visit:

County Hall, Newport, Isle of Wight
Planning Offices, Fairlee Road, Newport, Isle of Wight
Newport Library
Sandown Library
Shanklin Library
Or they can be downloaded from www.iwight.gov.uk