Seafront Regeneration Strategy Janet Johnson Deputy Chief Executive Sunderland City Council PO Box 102 Civic Centre SR2 7DN Tel: (0191) 561 2439 Fax: (0191) 553 7893 e-mail: [email protected] January 2010 Contents 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Purpose of the Seafront Regeneration Strategy 7 1.2 The study area 8 1.3 Location of the seafront 8 1.4 History of the seafront 10 1.5 The importance of the seafront today 11 2.0 Policy context 2.1 National planning policy 13 2.2 Regional policy context 13 2.3 Partnership policies 14 2.4 Local policies 14 2.5 Summary 14 3.0 Research and analysis 3.1 Land use 15 3.2 Movement, arrivals and connections 17 3.3 Public Consultation 19 4.0 Issues and opportunities 4.1 Challenges 22 4.2 Assets 24 4.3 Opportunities 26 5.0 The vision and objectives 5.1 The Vision 28 5.2 The Objectives 30 6.0 The framework 6.1 Strategic principles 31 6.2 Character Areas 36 6.3 Marine Walk 38 6.4 Cliff Park and Recreation Park 40 6.5 Ocean Park 42 6.6 Seaburn promenade 44 6.7 Gateways 46 7.0 Management Issues 7.1 Management Issues 57 8.0 Next Steps 8.1 Next Steps 59 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Purpose of the Seafront The Unitary Development Plan 1998 The strategy has a number of purposes: Regeneration Strategy (UDP) is the adopted Development Plan that guides new development and • To establish an agreed vision and The Seafront Regeneration Strategy decisions on planning applications in regeneration objectives for the is an overarching document to guide the city under the Town and Country seafront the regeneration of Roker and Seaburn Planning Act (1990). The Planning and seafronts and deliver the objective set out Compulsory Purchase Act (2004) brought • To act as a supporting document for in the Sunderland Strategy (2008-2025), major changes to the planning system future funding bids the overarching strategy for the city which including the replacement of UDPs with states that: ‘by 2025 Roker and Seaburn a series of documents collectively called • To ensure development at the will have a key role in providing cultural a Local Development Framework (LDF). seafront is cohesive and joined up tourism attractions.’ Supplementary Planning Documents for the seafront will form part of Sunderland • To pull together and supplement In order to deliver the aims and objectives City Council’s Local Development the various policies relating to the of the Seafront Regeneration Strategy Framework. seafront in emerging Development it is intended that a number of detailed Plan Documents as part of the Local documents are produced. The first of In addition to the Marine Walk masterplan Development Framework process these documents is the Marine Walk a Promenade Public Realm Strategy Masterplan which has been prepared and a Seafront Management Plan will be In this section the strategy highlights in conjunction with this strategy. This produced in order to help coordinate the the rich history of the seafront and its masterplan has been prepared as a delivery of the Seafront Regeneration importance to both the city and the Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) Strategy. region. and when approved will be a material consideration when determining planning The council recognises that the seafront Subsequent sections set out the policy applications and provide specific guidance at Roker and Seaburn (the seafront) is an context for the regeneration of the on the regeneration of the seafront at area with unfulfilled potential. To inform seafront, the results of public consultation, Roker. A detailed masterplan for Seaburn the future direction of the seafront a city significant issues faced at the seafront, will also be prepared. wide public consultation was undertaken a vision and regeneration objectives for between 16 February and 3 April 2009 to the seafront and, finally, how this can be find out what the people who live in, work delivered. in and visit Sunderland feel should be the vision for the future of the seafront. The results of this consultation – contained in the Seafront Consultation Findings Report (May 2009) available at www.sunderland. gov.uk/seafront – have informed the development of this Regeneration Strategy (the strategy). Roker Beach 7 1.2 The study area 1.3 Location of the seafront This strategy focuses on the twin resorts Roker is located in St Peter’s Ward and of Roker and Seaburn, which stretch along Seaburn in Fulwell Ward on the north east 2.5km of coastline from Whitburn Bents edge of the city, in Sunderland’s North in the north to the mouth of the River Area. The seafront has strong linkages to Wear in the south. The seafront occupies Sunderland city centre by road, pedestrian a relatively narrow strip astride Whitburn and cycle routes via Wearmouth Road and Roker Terrace (the A183) which Bridge. To the north, the seafront is well separate commercial and residential connected to South Tyneside’s coast via areas from NORTHthe largely SHIELDS undeveloped cliff- the A183. The River Wear separates the top open spaces, the promenades and area from Sunderland’s port and coast to sweeping beaches. Figure 2 indicates the the south. extent of this area. Old South Pier Lighthouse SOUTH SHIELDS Key Local authority boundary BLYTH JARROW Souter Lighthouse Major road Metro/railway WHITLEY BAY Central Area TYNEMOUTH Local landmarks SOUTH SHIELDS NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE A1 JARROW A19 SEAFRONT STRATEGY AREA South Tyneside A194(M) SUNDERLAND A1018 Sunderland City South Tyneside Seaburn SEAFRONT STRATEGY AREA Sunderland City Old South Pier Lighthouse DURHAM PETERLEE Fulwell Windmill Bede’s Cross Roker A19 Roker Lighthouse A66 A1231 HARTLEPOOL A1(M) Stadium of Light St. Peter’s Church National Glass Centre WASHINGTON REDCAR Sunderland Museum and A1231 Winter Gardens STOCKTON ON TEES MIDDLESBROUGH SUNDERLAND Civic Centre DARLINGTON A19 Figure 1. Regional locationFigure 1. of Regional seafront Location strategy Planarea 8 A1(M) A19 Key Area Boundary Seaburn Camp Morrisons Whitburn Road Seaburn Cliff Sea Road Park Roker Roker Terrace Roker Park Marina Figure 2. Seafront strategy area boundary 9 1.4 History of the seafront Roker Ravine. In 1885 the construction The popularity of Roker and Seaburn of Roker Pier – along the line of a natural has declined since the 1960s as growing The seafront has a rich and interesting rocky outcrop – and the lower promenade prosperity and mobility has given history. The geology of Roker and (now known as Marine Walk) commenced. holidaymakers wider choice. The 1980s Seaburn is hugely significant, dating and early 1990s saw major changes back some 238 million years to when By 1907 Roker had become a thriving at Seaburn with the construction of the famous ‘cannonball’ rocks first seaside resort. The promenade and sands a supermarket, the Pullman Lodge started forming in the coastal magnesian were an obvious attraction and were often restaurant, bar and motel and the council’s limestone cliffs. Archaeologists believe crowded with visitors. Roker Spa Hotel, Seaburn Leisure Centre, as well as the that Roker seafront may have been settled designed by John Dobson in 1842, also relocation of the fairground. It was at this in prehistoric times, when the caves at drew many visitors to the seafront. time the council reintroduced the seafront Roker offered an attractive habitat for illuminations and launched the annual hunter-gatherer groups. This theory is Seaburn’s reputation was not established Sunderland International Airshow, still supported by the prehistoric and Roman until the 1930s with the construction of the largest free airshow in Europe. More finds which have been recovered from seafront promenades, Seaburn Hotel, recently the area has hosted sporting Roker beach, including an antler harpoon Queens Parade shops and Seaburn Hall. events and Sunderland Live Music Festival. and Roman coins. Seaburn quickly became a popular resort These events attract many visitors, often for North Eastern holidaymakers and local with considerable success – the Airshow The earliest recorded built development day-trippers, as well as visitors from further recently won an Enjoy England Award for took place at Roker in the 1840s when afield, including Scotland and the North Excellence. However, other popular events Roker Terrace was built on the cliff tops. West. One of its most famous visitors was such as the seafront illuminations no The suburb only began to develop after the artist L.S. Lowry, who regularly stayed longer take place. the opening of Roker Park in 1880 when in the Seaburn Hotel and painted local Sir Hedworth Williamson and the Church scenes, including the beach. Commissioners donated land for the development of a park on the condition the council build the road bridge to span Parson’s Rock Roker Hotel (c1920) Sunderland International Airshow 10 1.5 The importance of the Attracting investment to the city These former industrial sites, once among seafront today the economic drivers of the city until the Having an attractive seafront with a decline of heavy industry in the 1980s, Quality of life variety of leisure opportunities in close will now be developed to create new proximity to the city centre is a unique employment opportunities – including Sunderland’s seafront is highly valued by selling point, which will aid Sunderland office, leisure (hotel and sports facilities) NORTHthe SHIELDS city and region as a whole. In 2007 arc (the city’s Urban Regeneration and high-quality retail – as well as city Seaburn Beach came third in an online Company) in delivering its key projects by centre housing that will be attractive to Pride of Place Poll for top beauty spots attracting new residents and businesses those working in these new jobs. This will in the North East, just behind Durham to the city.