Deadline extended for public to shape waterfront improvements

Over 400 people came to one of 8 roadshow events across the borough in the past weeks. The events were an opportunity to meet the project team, see the early concepts and give feedback on how the town's historic waterfront can be improved.

Due to the roadshow's popularity, the deadline for online feedback has now been extended until Tuesday 18 February to give more people time to give their input. Members of the public can visit www.gosport.gov.uk/waterfront to view the information and share views.

What you can have your say on

The scope of the exhibition includes:

• Potential walking and cycling routes along the waterfront between Hardway and Haslar, including the town centre
• 14 key locations where new art installations, interpretation or other interventions could help grow the number of visitors from within the borough and beyond
• A possible name, look and feel for how these waterfront routes and attractions could be promoted to residents and visitors

Feedback to inform a new masterplan

All public feedback will be reviewed and feed into the development of a 'masterplan' for the waterfront. This masterplan will be started shortly by expert architects, and is expected to be completed by late summer. It will incorporate public feedback, existing infrastructure, active travel opportunities and more to put forward specific proposals for the waterfront.

This will be accompanied by further opportunities for the public to have their say on any specific plans, and the Council will then decide which areas to prioritise first with this first phase of funding from the UK Government.

Councillor Peter Chegywn, Leader of the Council, said: "It's great to see so many people coming forward to help shape these early concepts before they develop into a masterplan. Public feedback is essential to creating the best possible blueprint for investing in our waterfront for years to come."

More information

About the Reconnecting Gosport's Historic Waterfront project

In 2023 Gosport Borough Council was successfully awarded £18m of Government Levelling Up funding to help regenerate Gosport's historic waterfront and town centre. £11m is allocated to restoring the Rum Store at Victoria Quay, and £7m to encouraging more residents and visitors to discover the attractions and businesses on the waterfront.

This will include creating new physical links to help more people access our waterfront, and telling the story of our heritage through wayfinding, public art and more. It also includes funding to renovate the Rum Store building, match funded by the site owner UK Docks.

The successful funding bid of £18m, when combined with UK Docks' contribution to the Rum Store, represents £30m total investment in revitalising the town's economy.

Regenerating Gosport's Waterfront

The two Government-funded projects to improve the waterfront's public realm and restore the Rum Store are part of a wider council programme to regenerate the waterfront. A separate but complementary third project focuses on the old bus station site in the town centre, which is set to become a 2,000sqm public park with new cafes, toilets and a ferry ticket office.

Published: 17 February 2022