Resorts submit plans to secure Sea Change regeneration cash

Blackpool, Dover and Torbay have submitted detailed proposals to the Government-funded initiative Sea Change, in the hope of securing large-scale funding to build and revamp visitor attractions.


Sea Change panel member the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment is distributing £12m of Government cash to the three seaside towns to encourage their economic regeneration.


Blackpool hopes to secure £4m towards a new £11m outdoor music venue adjacent to Blackpool Tower.


‘If we get the go-ahead for this proposal, there will likely be work for branding and graphic design groups,’ says a spokeswoman for regeneration company ReBlackpool.


Torbay’s proposal includes transforming the manor house Cockington Court into a ‘cultural hub’, with ‘incubator space’ including galleries, workshops, studios and teaching facilities for emerging artists and makers.


Among other projects, it also hopes to upgrade the visitor facilities at Berry Head, a gateway to Torbay’s Geopark. Dover intends to spend £4m on its visitor attractions, but was unavailable to provide further details at the time of going to press.


Cabe and its Sea Change partners are reviewing the proposals, which they received last week. The panel has the power to recommend alterations to the applications, but refused to comment on the proposals at this stage.


Cabe plans to distribute £45m over the next three years to encourage the economic regeneration of run-down resort towns across the UK.


Blackpool, Dover and Torbay will have received the first funding instalment by the autumn.



 

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