Design process
The Countryside Agency's 'Hornsea Market Town Initiative Action Plan', prepared by BDP in September 2001, recognised the rejuvenation of the seafront at Hornsea as a key component of the 30 initiatives identified to help ensure the town's future growth and long term sustained prosperity.
Atkins were commissioned in September 2002, via an existing design framework contract with East Riding Yorkshire Council (ERYC), to produce an initial concept masterplan for the whole promenade, with more developed ideas for the key central section, where available funding was to be focused.
The seafront at Hornsea is actually located around half a mile from the town centre and so Atkins initial work also looked at ways of addressing connections between the two areas.
Consultation exercises were undertaken from an early stage with a major public meeting/exhibition taking place at the end of October. This process established an imaginative brief, requiring from Atkins, a design to radically transform the promenade. Bridlington was cited as an example of the type of approach envisaged. The main consultees included the Hornsea Area Regeneration Partnership, local and parish councillors, and 'Let's Go Hornsea', a local focus group made up of members of the public, professionals and representatives from the Chamber of Commerce.
From it's approval in October 2002, the project was fast tracked in order to reach completion in time for the 2003 summer season.
The design developed as a sequence of spatial experiences along the promenade, the arrangement of which took reference from the groynes found along the beach. Details and materials, many of which were bespoke, also drew heavily from the site context both in terms of their appearance and in their ability to withstand the harsh coastal environment. In particular; the hard wood timber groynes to subdivide garden spaces; 'an ocean liner balustrade' in marine grade stainless steel; the sandy coloured resin bound gravel promenade; timber decked boardwalks, solid granite walls and saline tolerant plants and turf.
The works were tendered through an East Riding Council Select List and awarded to local firm WOLD Construction. Atkins administered the contract, which started on site on February 24th 2003 and was completed on August 15th.
Technical user and maintenance meetings were held monthly through the detailed design and construction phases to ensure that the specified materials were appropriate for the continued long-term maintenance and appearance of the facilities. ERYC are responsible for managing and maintaining the promenade.
