Port Marine

When all phases of Port Marine are complete, there will be a rich mixture of residential and commercial development. The later phases include not only 2,500 more homes – some affordable, small market entry units and sheltered housing – but also 69 680sq.m (750 000sq.ft) of employment use and 60 390sq.m (65 000 sq.ft) of retail space.

There will also be a library, a health centre, and a new primary school. A transport interchange will augment existing networks, and there will be large amounts of public open space – including the existing wildlife reserve.

The layout of Phase One revolves around a central park. Waterside parcels focus on the Marina, with dwellings grouped around squares of various sizes. Narrow streets, discreet parking, extensive hard and soft landscaping and public art works, all add to the sense of place. Buildings range in height from two storey mews houses to eight storey blocks of flats fronting the marina. The parcels are seen as separate developments, and vary in style. These include Regency, Arts & Crafts, the Flemish streetscape found across the hill, as well as fishing village vernacular.

The original masterplan provided an excellent framework for development, but some of the inspiration seems to have got lost in the implementation. Coast towns have their own strong character, and it seems curious to transpose parts of towns such as Bath or Cheltenham to this location.

The aesthetic of the seaside has been modern for many decades and, whilst respecting the concept of using a variety of designers for the different neighbourhoods, an exciting opportunity has been missed. The undoubted elegance of the interiors is somewhat at odds with the environment of the site, where a more robust treatment would be expected. However, many of the buildings are excellently detailed, with considerable research and care clearly having gone into their execution.