That MasterPlan is to be prepared following a review of existing uses within the area and a programme of consultations with local stakeholders.
Pictured: Braye Harbour is considered to be ripe for development and investment.
What’s there already
The Braye Harbour area currently has a number of uses including “residential, commercial, recreational and industrial sites together with island utilities”.
Braye Harbour has 70 yellow mooring buoys available to visiting yachtsmen from £25.00 per day for mooring or £10.00 per day for anchorage.
There is a dinghy pontoon and slipway available. A water taxi service is run by the Harbour Office.
The Harbour Office is at the south west end of the harbour, near the entrance to Little Crabby Harbour and there are toilets and showers, a laundrette, telephones, chandlers and a skip for rubbish nearby.
Mainbrayce Chandlers is at the Harbour providing fresh water, diesel, bottled gas, spares and mechanical assistance.
Braye Beach Hotel – owned by the Handpicked Hotels group – is near Braye Harbour with a restaurant and bar open to non residents. The Divers Bar is also at the Harbour along with The Quarterdeck Restaurant and Braye Chippy. Cantina No. 6 and The Moorings are also nearby.
The area also includes some important heritage assets including nearby Fort Grosnez.
What could be there
The States of Alderney Island Plan identifies the economy as a key priority and specifically refers to the island’s two ‘gateways’ – the Harbour and Airport – as essential to economic growth and prosperity.
The Island Plan includes mission statements such as: “Use States assets (terrestrial and marine) to their full potential for the public good” and “Protect and develop the unique heritage and natural environment for the benefit of the community.”
The Harbour area could be used in wider plans to “develop an economic USP that can attract entrepreneurial business investment” which in turn would “improve the skills base of the working community” and “Increase the number and diversity of resilient businesses”.
Aims which would directly affect members of the public include calls to: “Increase the provision of appropriate housing for use by a growing population” and “Increase and diversify the provision of family friendly indoor infrastructure amenities”.
Who will decide what goes where
The General Services Committee (GSC) has commissioned Avison Young and partners Maccreanor Lavington Architects to prepare the MasterPlan which will provide “the vision and conceptual layout for the area to guide future development and unlock potential growth”.
Work has already started with collation of key data as well as initial collaboration with GSC representatives, the Harbour Office and States Works. It’s expected that the draft MasterPlan will be out by the end of the year.
There will be some public engagement events next month for existing and potential future stakeholders to share their thoughts and aspirations for the area – including commercial and recreational users and local residents as well as the RNLI and the Border Agency.
An online survey will also be launched.
States Members Bill Abel and Bruce Woodhead are the GSC representatives for the Braye Opportunity Area project.
In a joint statement, they said: “This is a key strategic location for Alderney. A MasterPlan approach will provide us with a clear vision on what the area could look like in the future which will give us greater clarity to guide future planning decisions and unlock those opportunities to improve the prosperity of the Island.”
Pictured top: Braye Harbour (Alan Perks).
READ MORE
Business boost for Alderney’s harbour
Waterfront houses and private berths in Alderney’s bold bid to attract HNWs
Alderney Rep: “Public money rusting away before our eyes”