The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) and English Partnerships have selected LDA Urban Design to work with the Cowes Waterfront partners, to undertake the masterplanning of the former GKN North Works site at East Cowes on the Isle of Wight.

The partners will prepare a plan for the redevelopment of the 25 acre (10 hectare) site which will include marine related business, housing, retail and leisure uses, as well as public access to the waterfront.

Transport consultants, Peter Brett Associates, have also been appointed to deliver a transport strategy for the regeneration of the site which will improve facilities for public, vehicle and passenger ferry.

Community consultation will start this summer, when the partners will engage with local residents and key stakeholders to ensure that their comments are taken onboard. Initial proposals for the site are likely to be finalised by early 2005. A planning brief will be produced in spring 2005 to guide future development and it is anticipated that a planning application will be submitted in summer 2005.

Director of LDA, John Phillipps, commented: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to recreate East Cowes as a superb and sustainable waterfront town. In Queen Victoria’s time, this town was a jewel in the Isle of Wight crown, and we want to work with the local community to develop a future vision which rekindles pride of place as a central theme. The masterplan needs to be truly mixed-use, carefully integrated into its surroundings and, above all, it must be supported by local people.”

LDA was selected for its considerable experience in delivering exemplary mixed-use schemes for the rejuvenation of both town centres and waterfront sites. The company is currently completing a masterplan for the redundant dockland area at Millbay in Plymouth, which shares an overall regeneration vision similar to that of the East Cowes project.