EAST Devon District Council’s Cabinet has approved a grant to Exmouth Sea Cadets of £150,000 towards the cost of their new headquarters.

This is a key project that will help to kick-start the revitalisation of the Camperdown Creek area.

Cabinet also heard about the successes and progress on a number of other regeneration projects across the district, primarily in Exmouth and Seaton, and agreed to the plans going forward.

Since the Masterplan, or Exmouth vision, was agreed by all three councils (Devon County, East Devon District and Exmouth Town) in 2011 significant achievements have included the new public open spaces in The Strand and Orcombe Point; the sale of Elizabeth Hall leading to the building of a new 60-bedroom Premier Inn hotel on the seafront; the outline planning and marketing of the Queen’s Drive leisure area; and the submission of a planning application to restore and improve Mamhead Slipway.

Talks are ongoing with leisure providers interested in the exciting opportunities presented by the Queen’s Drive leisure area and these discussions are progressing but are currently commercially sensitive.

Devon County Council is working on some improvements to the access to the station to be installed by March 2015 and in the longer term further improvements to that area are planned.

The key to the rest of the Estuaryside development is the sale of the land currently being used by Exmouth Rugby Club. A new supermarket remains the key to developing this site and giving the rugby club a new future.

Again, discussions are ongoing and commercially sensitive. Cllr Andrew Moulding, deputy leader of East Devon District Council and chair of Exmouth Regeneration Board, said “We are making excellent progress with our regeneration programme in Exmouth.

It was fantastic to see The Strand buzzing during the summer with visitors and local people enjoying the cafes, restaurants and bars. The Premier Inn is well underway for its February opening. Regeneration of a town does not happen overnight. 

It can involve complex negotiations to ensure the best possible outcome for all parties and very often requires a series of sequential events to occur.”

Confidence builds in Seaton

In Seaton, the sale of the site to Tesco has enabled the regeneration of that part of the town with a new food store, a public open space (Thury Harcourt Place) and new housing. The construction of Seaton Jurassic, a new visitor attraction for the Jurassic Coast, is underway which will bring a huge economic boost to the town and region when it opens towards the end of 2015. Cllr Ian Thomas, cabinet member and chair of Seaton Regeneration Board, said “In Seaton we are starting to see how one development can kick start others in both the private and public sector. The town is excited about Seaton Jurassic and with the linked projects such as the Tramway improvements, new facilities at the Axe Estuary Wetlands and the opening of the Stop Line Way cycle path regeneration is continuing at a pace. I hope the rapidly building confidence in Seaton will lead to construction starting at Seaton Quays, Fosseway Court and Seaton Heights Hotel; private investments with planning approval, to further boost the growing Seaton economy and employment opportunities ”

Finally, Cabinet noted the intention to explore some regeneration opportunities in Axminster during 2015 beginning with the Websters garage site.