Connecting Herne Bay
People, Places, Play
Herne Bay has been described as a town without a centre.
The town centre economy has declined over many years which can be attributed to a number of reasons including:
- The A299 bypasses the town and discourages town centre trade
- Traditional long stay tourist markets have moved overseas
- The ascendancy of one stop shopping in out of town centres with free parking
- Changing leisure and shopping habits which kill off local centres and encourage a car based lifestyle.
The City Council has instigated a regeneration process through a series of public consultations. The early indication that people were not satisfied with their town was through the results of a vision survey in April 2005.
The information gathered was used in January 2006 to present some issues & opportunities to the people of Herne Bay for their consideration.
In November 2006 a series of options were put forward to consider the future of the town. The options ranged from minor through to major with the vast majority of people wanting significant or major change.
In January 2008 the people of Herne Bay are being consulted on the preferred option for the future of Herne Bay - This includes plans for a significantly improved town centre, memorial park and seafront.
January 2008 - Public Consultation on the Connecting Herne Bay Area Action Plan Preferred Options
The options document for the future of regeneration and development of Herne Bay was consulted on between 24th January to 7th March 2008. The public consultation is now closed.
This can be viewed by selecting the following link:
- Herne Bay Area Action Plan - Preferred Options (9mb PDF Adobe Acrobat)
The document can also be viewed here http://canterbury-consult.limehouse.co.uk/portal
Other supporting documents
- Sustainability Appraisal: The City Council is also consulting on the Preferred Option Sustainability Appraisal of the Preferred Options document.
Comments on the sustainability appraisal can also be submitted on line at
http://canterbury-consult.limehouse.co.uk/portal or by downloading the comments form and send to Adrian Verrall, Planning Policy Manager, Regeneration and Economic Development, Military Road, Canterbury, Kent CT1 1YW.
Please read the guidance notes before completing the comments form.
- A non technical summary of the Sustainabilty Appraisal is also available.
- DPD Matters (Development Plan Documents)
- Public Notice Herne Bay area Notice
- Regulation 26 ConsultationStatement
- Herne Bay Area Action Plan conformity statement
- Herne Bay Initial Transport Study (January 2008) prepared by Jacobs
- Report on Consultation Event (December 2006) by Experian
- PPS 25 SequentialStatement and Exception Tests
- Analysis of Representations received on the Options Document (November 2006)
PREVIOUS CONSULTATIONS THAT HAVE INFORMED THE PREFERRED OPTIONS DOCUMENT
Connecting Herne Bay Options (November 2006)
The Options document set out 4 main development options for Herne Bay. This was informed by the previous consultation event in January 2006.
Option 1 - No change in policy
Option 2 - Minor change
Option 3 - Significant change
Option 4 - Major change.
The City Council has produced a summary Connecting Herne Bay Option Consultation Analysis of all the comments received during the consultation period on the Connecting Herne Bay Options Consultation Document (November 2006). These are arranged can also be viewed according in Option order below.
- Herne Bay Regeneration Option 1 - no change policy.
Leave development and renewal to the market controlled by current government, regional and council planning policy - Herne Bay Regeneration Option 2 - minor change.
Build on projects currently being planned and undertaken in Herne Bay. A number of small improvements would be carried out as funds become available and more effort would be put into marketing the town and improving its image - Herne Bay Regeneration Option 3 - significant change.
Work with the assets and strengths of Herne Bay and retains the character of the town while providing better tourist attractions, more community facilities and an enhanced shopping environment - Herne Bay Regeneration Option 4 - major change.
Make Herne Bay a destination by developing significant attractions, creating a new town centre and completely redesigning the existing shopping area, seafront, pedestrian links and highway network - Herne Bay Options comments - combination of options 3 and 4
- Herne Bay Options comments - no option preference stated
The City Council also commissioned an assessment of Herne Bay's Tourism product with a view to identifying ways in which tourism development might support the town's regeneration.
The purpose includes the identification of Herne Bay's tourism assets and any factors that might inhibit the town's potential for further tourism development.
A SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) summarises the study.
A number of other seaside towns were investigated to find out how regeneration is tackled elsewhere, with an emphasis on the role of tourism in the regeneration process and the impact regeneration has had on tourism. There is scope to share experiences and proposals with others and learn lessons from their experiences.
The City Council has produced a summary of all the comments received during the consultation period on the Connecting Herne Bay Options Consultation Document (November 2006). These are arranged according in Option order.
Connecting Herne Bay: Issues and opportunities (January 2006)
The Connecting Herne Bay - issues and opportunities (855kb Adobe Acrobat PDF) document is the first document in a series which examines the issues facing the area and discusses opportunities for regeneration and future development. This document will lead to an options document, which together with the outcome of stakeholder and public consultation will provide the basis for an Urban Design Framework. This Framework should guide future development and regeneration in a coherent manner that enhances the town's identity, by means of an Area Action Plan which, is part of the Local Development Framework.
In a recent community survey of the residents of Heron ward, there was an overwhelming response that the town did not perform in the way that people wanted it to. The residents wanted better shopping facilities, better entertainment and leisure facilities and better community facilities. Many of the comments were concerned about the quality of the shopping on offer, which included too many charity and pound shops and not enough quality choice.
Consultation results
The City Council held a successful public consultation event on 26th January 2006 and the consultation results are avaliable to view please select the link below.
