Lyme's Marine Parade Shelters contributing to economic growth (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Lyme's Marine Parade Shelters contributing to economic growth

7:00am Tuesday 19th March 2013 in News By Adrianne Maslen

THE regenerated Marine Parade Shelters have been named among the historic South West buildings contributing to the region’s economic growth.

A new English Heritage publication highlights four businesses flourishing in historic buildings that have been repaired or adapted.

Constructive Criticism – Sustainable Growth for Historic Places has been published today and celebrates the £1.2million regeneration of the seafront shelters, led by Lyme Regis Town Council.

Other South West projects featured are Clifton Lido, Quakers Friars in Bristol, and Clinton Devon Estates in East Devon.

They are all conservation-led projects where the positive and constructive approach to managing change by English Heritage and local authorities has helped historic buildings to be kept in use.

‘Constructive conservation’ means having a thorough understanding of what makes a site historically important and collaboratively working with owners and developers to enhance that, while finding a new use that allows their continued use and enjoyment.

Veryan Heal, acting planning and conservation director in the South West for English Heritage, said: “Buildings of the past can serve the future well, as demonstrated by the job creation and business growth at the businesses throughout region featured in our new ‘Constructive Conservation’ publication.

“Repair and adaptation of our existing building stock is inherently sustainable and these historic buildings demonstrate heritage is clearly not a barrier to growth.”

The featured projects show how historic buildings can contribute to job creation, economic growth and economic prosperity.

The publication says the shelters project has helped boost the town’s tourist economy.

It says: “Although the shelters along the seafront in Lyme Regis were not significant enough to be listed, they were deemed to be a very positive aspect of the town’s Conservation Area.

“English Heritage responded to the council’s desire to update the beach shelters by identifying the significant nucleus of the group for retention and enabling the less significant elements to be rebuilt.

“The renewed waterfront contributes to the town’s tourism economy by combining the historic shelters that add so much character to the seafront along with new shelters, two new shops, a performance area, a market area and two new community rooms.

“The project has also improved the physical and visual links between the town, harbour, Lister and Langmoor Gardens and surrounding areas.”

The publication can be downloaded from englishheritage.org.uk/constructiveconservation