Have your say to finalise Masterplan for Hunstanton’s future

In recent months, the borough council has spoken with a wide range of local and statutory stakeholders, including town councils and local businesses, as well as bringing together and updating opportunities identified from previous plans, strategies and consultations.

Supported by Norfolk-based multi-disciplinary specialists, Greyfriars, this initial work has resulted in a draft Masterplan for Hunstanton, that seeks to enhance the town as a beautiful and high-quality place to live, visit and do business, focussing on the town centre and historic seafront but also considering the wider urban area.

Now people can have a look at the draft Masterplan and have their say in a public consultation, to help refine the document before it is finalised and considered for adoption by the borough council.

Once agreed, the Masterplan will become the blueprint for Hunstanton’s regeneration, putting the town in a strong position to respond to investment opportunities that may arise from devolution in Norfolk and Suffolk, inform projects in development like the renewal of the sea defences and promenade, as well as leveraging private investment.

Find out more and take part until Friday 6 February at www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/hunstantonmasterplan

You can also view exhibition boards and speak with the project team at the below drop-in sessions at Hunstanton Town Hall. The exhibition boards will also remain on display in Hunstanton Town Hall after the first drop-in session.

• Thursday 15 January, 10am-7pm
• Monday 2 February, 10am-7pm

If you don’t have online access, you are also welcome to use the public-access PCs at King’s Court reception and local libraries, or call Customer Services on 01553 616200 for a paper copy of the survey response form, copies of which will also be available alongside the exhibition boards at Hunstanton Town Hall.

Cllr Simon Ring, Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Business, said: “The Masterplan is important because it will be used to guide future funding, investment and planning for both short-term improvements and long-term regeneration ambitions for Hunstanton over the next 10-20 years. The last Masterplan for Hunstanton was 17 years ago and is ripe for updating.

“Working with our community and partners, we want to take Hunstanton forward, based on its classic offering as an historic seaside destination, respecting and capitalising on its unique heritage, culture and character as a Victorian seaside resort and high-quality place to live.

“The draft Masterplan objectives and concept designs presented for consultation have directly responded to previous initiatives, and have been further shaped by initial conversations with local stakeholders, businesses and interest groups over recent months. A Masterplan is a long-term strategic vision – the specific projects would of course be subject to securing required funding, permissions, detailed work and further consultation to take them forward.

“At this stage, we want to hear what the wider community think because we want to have a collective vision that everyone in Hunstanton feels they can get behind, rooted in the town’s strength’s, opportunities and people’s collective ambitions for Hunstanton.

“We recognise that Hunstanton has a wide appeal both as a key service centre and amenity for neighbouring villages and residents of west Norfolk as well as people who travel from across the region and country to enjoy the seaside resort for their holidays; its therefore crucial that the needs of residents and businesses local to the town are considered alongside the wider regeneration opportunities that will maintain the attractiveness of the resort as a place to work, visit and invest.

“So please do take the time to look at the draft masterplan, come along to one of the drop-in sessions if you can, because the feedback of people living and working in Hunstanton will be used to refine the Masterplan before it is updated, finalised and adopted.”

What’s in the draft Masterplan?

The draft Masterplan sets out 11 draft strategic objectives and maps out six areas and concepts for potential improvements, including the town centre, connections through to the seafront, leisure facilities, beach facilities and public realm.

The six key potential improvements it identifies are:

1. Town centre improvement area and well-designed connections down to the seafront
2. New gateway to The Promenade – new high quality flexible public realm spaces with improved links and wayfinding up to the town centre
3. New leisure facility, utilising the opportunity for new and enhanced leisure at the wider Oasis area site, creating a very high quality multi-use space
4. Promenade Park – a new high quality public realm space, incorporating critical flood defence works, but designed to be a beautiful place where people will want to rest and stay
5. The Yard – a multi-use and very flexible events and commercial space, which would be a key element in attracting visitors off-season and throughout the year
6. The Beach – improvements to beach facilities and accessibility.