Agenda item
RHYL REGENERATION PROGRAMME AND WATERFRONT MASTERPLAN
To consider a report (copy attached) providing the Committee with a high-level update on the Rhyl Regeneration Programme and the Rhyl Waterfront Masterplan, including the next steps following the imminent completion of the Central Rhyl Coastal Defence Scheme.
Minutes:
The Leader / Lead Member for Economic Growth and Tackling
Deprivation introduced the report (previously circulated). He advised that
Levelling Up Fund monies were coming through, together with those from Plans
for Neighbourhoods (previously known as Long Term Plans For Towns).
There was a high level of activity around:
- Queen’s Market
- Expressions of interest
for Vue Cinema
- The Waterfront Masterplan.
The Corporate Director: Economy and Environment gave an
update on the Rhyl Regeneration Programme which largely focussed on capital
projects – physical and environmental issues - which was intended to lead to
economic growth and job creation. The programme linked to other issues
associated with homelessness; long term inactivity; crime and anti-social
behaviour.
The Council had been successful in securing grant funding to
deliver significant capital schemes with over £200m of capital investment being
delivered over the past decade.
There was a further £12m to be invested in four additional
projects to improve the town centre and promenade over the next three years.
The £20m grant from the Plans for Neighbourhoods Fund would allow a long term,
community led regeneration strategy to be delivered over the next 10 years.
The pillar of the programme was the Rhyl Town Centre Vision.
The plan was developed six years ago, some projects had been delivered whilst
others had not. Society had changed over those years – mainly due to the global
pandemic – and the Vision needed to be reviewed to ensure it was compatible
with the next 10 year plan.
Similarly, the Rhyl Waterfront Masterplan had been produced
several years ago. It was an ambitious concept with all the elements subject to
securing funding to deliver them along with some private investment. The
proposal was to develop four distinct zones along the waterfront (appendix a).
A draft 3D model of the waterfront and town centre had been
included in the report (appendix b). The plan had been commissioned for
marketing purposes, as a showcase to highlight how the waterfront had been
developed over the past decade and could be used to model future developments
and encourage private investments within Rhyl. The aspiration was that Rhyl
would reach the position where public sector intervention was no required, and
the private market took over.
Responding to the Committee’s questions the Leader and
Director advised that:
- The Department for
Communities (previously Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) was
committed to making value for money permanent change to communities (The
Terms of Reference for long term plans for the Department would be shared
with the Committee).
- A public engagement
programme would commence shortly to establish how the Vision fit in with
the communities’ needs.
- The success of the
regeneration of Rhyl would benefit the whole county/region.
- The biggest challenge for
Rhyl was its reputation due to negative media coverage that that it had
attracted over recent years. There was a media campaign being launched to
promote positive aspects.
- The newly established Rhyl
Neighbourhood Board was comprised of independent representatives from the
community rather than councillors.
- Community and youth
services groups would be involved in the Vision consultation.
- There was a role for
social media to play in Rhyl’s Vision engagement process with the local
community. Whilst local Facebook pages could be used to seek the view of
local residents’, Facebook was not the social media platform of choice for
the younger demographic.
- There was confidence that
the Queen’s Market facility would be open by the summer (2025).
Members expressed the view that public engagement needed to
be undertaken across the county to promote Rhyl’s regeneration. Rhyl and its
waterfront had historically been the seaside destination for Denbighshire
residents. There was a need to publicise the benefit of its regeneration to all
residents.
Members also encouraged liaising with neighbouring towns,
Kinmel Bay and Towyn as part of the Tourism Strategy. The Leader agreed and
advised that work around the Marina would facilitate that.
There was an invitation to all Denbighshire’s County
Councillors to visit the site of the new Queen’s Market on 10th
April. The Committee welcomed the invitation and suggested all members would be
interested in receiving updates on the Regeneration progress rather than
communication to the Rhyl Member Area Group.
The Committee requested that an update report be provided
once the engagement process had completed and the Rhyl Vision Plan established.
RESOLVED that:
- the feedback and
observations provided during the discussion be considered as part of the
delivery of the Rhyl Regeneration Programme and the Rhyl Waterfront
Masterplan; and
- an update report be
presented to Communities Scrutiny Committee following completion of the
consultation process and establishment of Rhyl Town Centre Vision Plan.
Supporting documents:
-
2025.03.27_Communities Scrutiny_ Rhyl Regeneration and waterfront v2, item 7.
PDF 158 KB
-
Appendix A_Waterfront plan, item 7.
PDF 285 KB
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Appendix B - Presentation Template - Rhyl Waterfront, item 7.
PDF 3 MB