Agenda item

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:

 

  1. 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
  2. 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: