Issued: 6 February 2002
Harbour Development Hooked
The redevelopment of Arbroath Harbour is being reeled in by Angus Council.
The proposed development centres on the former Gerrards site. Planned for inclusion in a single storey quayside centre are a tourist reception point, a café, speciality food outlet, a fishing tackle store and a restaurant.
It is intended that the commercial centre will overlook a permanent wet dock with extensive new berthing facilities for leisure craft.
Proposals for smokehouse exhibition space and retail fish outlets on the old fishmarket site, along with a new fish landing bay are also being considered.
Roy Clark of Baxter, Clark & Paul Architects is leading the development team in conjunction with local developers Albamuir Ltd and has been working with the public sector to bring the exciting new commercial development to fruition.
Council leader Rob Murray stressed that although a giant step had been taken there was still some way to go in the development of the harbour site.
“The project is still at a very early stage but a significant advance has now been made with the appointment of a developer. End users for the planned facilities are also waiting to get on board so now we need to get agreements and funding finalised.
Councillor Murray said that the development would breathe new life into the area.
“We are confident that the harbour will once again be a vibrant and busy part of town. The proposed mix of leisure and business provision will promote Arbroath’s long seafaring tradition and make the harbour area attractive to both visitors and local people. That will be good news for the town and good news for the wider Angus economy.”
Nick Day, director of competitive locations at Scottish Enterprise Tayside, said, “We are pleased to see the plans for Arbroath Harbour progressing. Although there is still much work to be done, the plans have reached the next stage.
“The harbour is a key element of the regeneration of Arbroath and it is important that we capitalise fully on its economic potential as an attraction for visitors and residents alike.”
Over the next three years Angus Council will invest just over £400,000 in the development, with projected support of £250,000 from Scottish Enterprise Tayside (SET) and £365,000 sought from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
The public sector investment will provide for essential infrastructure works including changes to the road access, the installation of new harbour gates to allow for the creation of the wet dock, the construction of tourist reception centre and high quality toilet facilities, the creation of pontoon berths and general environmental improvements to the area.
Arbroath councillor Alex King added his support to the latest proposals saying:
“The proposed development is part of a wider strategy for Arbroath which will greatly add to the attractions of the town. It will build on the success of the already popular new visitor centre at the Abbey and together the two developments will encourage a flow of people between the Harbour and the Abbey. This will bring more people into the town centre which can only be good news for local businesses.”
More detailed proposals are now being worked up and will be presented to the Arbroath Area Forum on 5 March 2002.