Have your say on plans for former Starlings garage in Dovercourt
A new car park, event space and public toilets are being proposed
People can now have their say on plans for a new car park, event space and public toilets in Dovercourt.
Design proposals for the development of the former Starlings garage and Queens Head Hotel site have been published.
The site has been derelict for many years after a fire, but its importance was recognised in 2019 by Tendring District Council’s (TDC) Dovercourt Masterplan Revisited.
The redevelopment is one of the ‘Dovercourt Twenty’ projects.
TDC purchased the site at the end of last year and has cleared it.
The principle design team, Richard Jackson Ltd, has also been appointed to develop detailed proposals for the site and to manage the construction process.
Mary Newton, TDC cabinet member for business and economic growth, is encouraging people to view the plans and give their opinions:
"For many years the Starlings site has been a blight on Dovercourt, and as we pledged with Dovercourt Rediscovered we are taking up the work required to bring this important piece of land up to scratch.
"The proposals are exciting and in line with what was recommended in the masterplan, but we are really keen to get your views so these can be fed into the design process.
"This project is being taken forward to improve the public realm, recognising the site’s importance to the town centre, and not for the council’s financial benefit."
The proposals include a 51-space car park, public toilets, and hard and soft landscaping.
It will also allow the council to use the site as an event space, providing capacity for one-off events such as a Christmas market or travelling fair.
The car park will replace the adjacent Milton Road car park, with separate work being carried out to establish the best use for that site.
A webinar is being held next Monday (15 March) at 6pm as part of the public consultation, where people can meet the project team and ask questions.
People can sign up to join it on the project website.
The deadline for people to take part in the consultation is 9am on 22 March.
They can have their say and view the plans online.
Those who cannot access the website or who require printed materials are asked to email kbrown@conciliocomms.com or call 0800 774 7638.
A planning application is expected once the consultation feedback has been considered.