Project Title: Coastal Arc

Project Description:
The Coastal Arc represents a joint submission by Hartlepool and Redcar & Cleveland Borough Councils for Single Programme Funding through the Tees Valley Delivery Plan 2004/2007. It is envisaged that this will form the first phase of an overall Coastal Arc Strategy for the Tees Valley coastal boroughs.
This project represents a strategic approach to the development of the tourism offer of the Tees Valley's coastal districts. The two authorities have identified a number of projects that will combine to enhance the visitor infrastructure and improve the overall coastal experience of the Tees Valley. The Coastal Arc directly contributes to the Tees Valley Vision and the Tees Valley Tourism Strategy. It seeks to align individual project proposals with the sub-regional strategy, identify areas of joint concern, promote cross-boundary initiatives and maximise the bidding potential of the sub-region.
The Coastal Arc contains projects that build upon previous initiatives to promote economic regeneration in the coastal boroughs. Confidence in the area will be increased by creating an attractive environment for visitors, businesses, investors and the community, to create realistic private sector investment opportunities. The Tees Valley coast will become a key tourist destination and investment location in the north-east, if not nationally.

The Coastal Arc for both authorities' areas is an important element of their tourism strategies. Hartlepool and Redcar & Cleveland have worked together and identified broad themes and a common approach to delivery. The Coastal Arc vision for this first phase centres on two simple themes:
The desire to create an attractive visitor experience that will serve the people of the Tees Valley and beyond: this will involve creating and developing activities and facilities that will be attractive enough to draw visitors and tourists to the coast on a regular and repeat basis.

The effective management of that experience including the creation of effective support mechanisms to assist visitor/tourism businesses in the area to grow and provide a high quality product or service: this will put in place measures that will ensure continual improvements to the quality of the facilities, the promotion of those facilities and support to visitor/tourism based businesses. It is vital that quality is secured, markets clearly defined and effective partnerships put in place.

In developing a Coastal Arc vision in this way there will be a positive contribution to other elements of the Tees Valley Vision, notably the creation of attractive places, building upon the assets that are in place and the development of a diverse, resilient economy with both direct job creation and image/cultural improvements that will benefit other sectors of the economy.

The measures to be funded through the Coastal Arc programme are only part of a range of actions and projects which will contribute to the Coastal Arc vision. These other, clearly linked, measures include major strategic projects such as the Victoria Harbour redevelopment in Hartlepool and the creation of the Coatham Links in Redcar. They also include a range of local authority and other partner contributions which range from public realm maintenance through to specific planning/environmental policies, water spaces uses and key private sector investments.

In Redcar & Cleveland, the project concentrates upon:

• The further development of the Redcar Renaissance Initiative to support and expand the towns key visitor and commercial role, including complementary activity supporting the Coatham Enclosure development linking to the town centre
  
• The further development of visitor/tourist facilities in Saltburn and its hinterland to enhance its role as resort with a distinctive heritage offer
  
• The further development of the East Cleveland Heritage Programme to support development of key heritage visitor attractions and facilities serving niche visitor market
  
• Coatham Enclosure - a £45m key development site of approximately 14 hectares (35 acres). The aim is to create a vibrant leisure destination in Redcar and put the town back on the map as a popular tourist, seaside, visitor and cultural destination. Quality attractions and leisure facilities for the local community and visitors will help to recapture the energy and vitality of the area, drawing people back into the town and wider resort. The facilities will include an Interpretation Center, Iconic Observation Tower, Extremes Sports Facility, Major Leisure Complex, Leisure Pool, Retail Premises,Pub/Restaurant and Housing.

In Hartlepool, the project concentrates resources upon:

• the renaissance of Seaton Carew, consolidating upon previous regeneration investment in the resource;
  
• the tourism revival of the Headland, to clearly link with the Victoria Harbour redevelopment and Fish Restaurant project; and;
  
• the further development of the visitor offer at the central area of the Marina and town centre, and establishing links between this central core and the wider area, including Victoria Harbour.

Given the overall Tees Valley aim of attracting more visitors and tourists to the sub-region, there is a need to coordinate both the development and marketing of facilities. By taking a joint approach, Hartlepool and Redcar & Cleveland will achieve that integration and benefit from the greater geographical spread of the market. This joint approach, however, recognises the inherently different characteristics of the two areas, and the initiatives included offer business and marketing opportunities which link to those characteristics. Visitors do not think in terms of geographical boundaries but of experiences. By jointly promoting these experiences, the visitor/tourism offer will be richer, enhancing the prospect of attracting visitors from outside of the region.

Lead Organisation (underlined) and Key Partners:
Hartlepool Borough Council and Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, Persimmon Homes