Skegness Foreshore Masterplan
Our brief was ‘to define a vision and viable delivery plan to take
the seaside resort of Skegness into the 21st Century, ensuring any proposals were deliverable and
set out such that the emerging spatial strategy can be taken forward in the LDF
Core Strategy for the area.
We recognise that most of the development on the Foreshore will need to be led by private investors working to normal commercial criteria. Our concern, therefore, with this study was to articulate the performance of the Foreshore as a place, measurable in pounds and pence, and footfall.
Our findings identified the importance of the impact of the tourist economy on the local economy, and the need to create a ‘bridge using complementary cultural and leisure facilities at the heart of the Foreshore and the town centre for all year use by both sectors. We identified the reasons for the performance of the tourist economy, and the importance of the indigenous market to the performance of the town. There is scope based on the natural wild life and sports opportunities to develop suitable ‘peak shoulder’ activities to attract a broader socio economic group to the area. This analysis was then interpreted into a spatial plan including zones for culture, nature, sports, amusements, and accompanied with a delivery plan.
We recognise that most of the development on the Foreshore will need to be led by private investors working to normal commercial criteria. Our concern, therefore, with this study was to articulate the performance of the Foreshore as a place, measurable in pounds and pence, and footfall.
Thus for this study our stating point was understanding what the economic performance, expenditure leakage, potential for economic growth and the linkages between the tourist economy and the local economy. This was informed by a wealth of research of the area in the regional and national context, stakeholder interviews and workshops, gauging the capacity of developer interest to invest in the area and also a detailed assessment of the place performance and connectivity. Given the coastal flood risks with this area, we gave particular attention to flood risk. Traffic movement was also a key consideration in the future delivery of this area.
Our findings identified the importance of the impact of the tourist economy on the local economy, and the need to create a ‘bridge using complementary cultural and leisure facilities at the heart of the Foreshore and the town centre for all year use by both sectors. We identified the reasons for the performance of the tourist economy, and the importance of the indigenous market to the performance of the town. There is scope based on the natural wild life and sports opportunities to develop suitable ‘peak shoulder’ activities to attract a broader socio economic group to the area. This analysis was then interpreted into a spatial plan including zones for culture, nature, sports, amusements, and accompanied with a delivery plan.
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