Bognor Regis Watersports Centre. Feasibility Study. Prepared By University Of Chichester 25th February 2011 FUNDED BY

Transcription

1 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study Prepared By University Of Chichester 25th February 2011 FUNDED BY

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3 Contents page 1.0 INTRODUCTION Background Objectives of the Study Methodology Project Scope Project Deliverables STRATEGIC CONTEXT Introduction Bognor Regis Regeneration Strategy Background History Geography Key Elements of the Bognor Regis Regeneration Opportunities and Challenges Arun District Council Local Strategy Butlins Skyline Ltd Development Strategy University of Chichester National Governing Body and Regional Sports Strategies Tourism National Regional Local Other Strategy Examples - Catching the Wave NEEDS and DEMAND Introduction Demographic Profile / Catchment Analysis Bognor Regis Resident Population according to District Ward Socio - Economic Classification according to District Ward Sport England Market Segmentation Local Residents Watersports Enthusiasts and Visitors to Bognor Regis Butlins Skyline Ltd Local Watersports Clubs Key Findings Watersports Clubs/Schools on the South Coast Local Schools, Colleges and the University of Chichester Business opportunities - catering and retail BENCHMARK CASE STUDIES Introduction Dover Sea Sports Centre Strengths and Weaknesses The Boscombe Overstrand Building Strengths and Weaknesses Mountbatten Watersports and Activities Centre, Plymouth 41 1 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

4 Contents (continued) Strengths and Weaknesses Additional Benchmarking Examples SITE ANALYSIS Introduction The proposed site Planning and Building Constraints and Opportunities Land Based Sea Based Environment Agency Evaluation Ground and Building Conditions Orientation Weather Wind Speed (kph) Tides Access/transport/car parking OPTIONS IDENTIFIED Introduction Option Advantages/Benefits Disadvantages/Challenges Optional Attractions The StingRay Standing Wave Brush Boarding The Sand Sports Area Option Advantages/Benefits Disadvantages/Challenges Option Advantages/Benefits Disadvantages/Challenges Conclusions OUTLINE DESIGN AND SITE CONFIGURATION OPTIONS Introduction Site Configuration Option Site Configuration Option 1, Variable Watersports Centre Indicative Building Layout DEVELOPING THE BUSINESS CASE ANALYSIS Introduction Business Case rationale Benchmarking Watersports analysis Catering and Retail summary 76 page 2 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

5 Contents Contents (continued) 1.0 Introduction 8.6 Indicative Capital Costs for Options considered Procurement Phasing of build Capital funding strategy Possible capital funding Possible revenue funding Management vehicle Indicative usage and revenue assumptions and projections Usage assumption (seasonal) Seasonal programming Charging policy Indicative revenue implications Summary Statement ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL IMPACTS Introduction Economic and Social Impact examples Boscombe Case Study SUMMARY OF FINDINGS Introduction Review of Strategic Context Establishing Need and Demand Conclusions from Benchmarking Case Studies The Business Case Benchmarking Indicative Capital Costs for the Options Considered Procurement Funding Strategy Management Vehicle Viability - Usage, Charges and Revenue Assumptions REVIEW OF OBJECTIVES RECOMMENDATIONS AND NEXT STEPS Introduction Recommendations Next Steps Outline implementation plan APPENDICES Consultees List References 104 page 3 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

6 1.0 Introduction

7 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Background The Bognor Regis Seafront Strategy produced in 2009 by Arun District Council proposed a radical agenda for the redevelopment of the seafront from Felpham to Aldwick. One of the key components of this revolved around the Butlin s Resort and an associated Watersports Centre. The strategy proposed that the new Watersports Centre be built on the Gloucester Road car park, in an iconic and environmentally-friendly building with new slipway access to the sea. This building could step over the promenade (with pedestrians passing beneath unhindered), bringing visitors closer to the sea and creating space for a raised terrace café with panoramic views. The Centre may provide Kitesurfing, jet skiing, a scuba school and other activities to residents, visitors and the students of the University of Chichester. It is important to note that the café should be viewed as an addition to the whole seafront offer, not just the Watersports Centre. The facility has the potential to fulfill a role similar to Littlehampton s East Beach Café in that it can become a visitor attraction in itself, serving a range of good food to suit tired and wet watersports enthusiasts as well as other dry visitors. The strategy went on to suggest that the Centre should have high architectural ambitions, modern sustainable construction methods, and a triple aspect, facing up and down the seafront as well as up Gloucester Road towards Hotham Park and Chichester University. The Centre should also incorporate a new public square on the western end of the building, and may incorporate new foreshore officers and lifeguards facilities. As a minimum, the Centre should provide garaging for the foreshore officers vehicles to replace the current facilities consisting of an ugly shipping container near the boat ramp at the corner of Gloucester Road. In March 2009, it was agreed that Butlins Skyline Ltd, Arun DC and the University of Chichester would jointly fund a Feasibility Study leading to the creation of a Business Case for the proposed development. The Study would be undertaken by the University and be funded by a contribution of 20,000 from each partner with the University s contribution being in kind. In October 2010 the Study was commissioned. 1.2 Objectives of the Study The principal objective of the Study is to establish the commercial and operational feasibility and viability of the proposition to establish a watersports facility on the Bognor Regis Seafront and to create a business case for its development. Within this, specific aims include establishing: To what extent would the Centre make a positive economic contribution to the regeneration agenda for Bognor Regis? To what extent would the Centre provide destination appeal to visitors in its own right whilst remaining commercially viable and at the same time supporting Butlins strategic aspirations? How the Centre might contribute to the world-class sports science in watersports reputation of the University and provide a focus for adventure education students and the student populace in general? How the reputation of the University in sports science, physical education and adventure education can contribute to the success and profile of the Centre? Those features, services and ingredients (including design and associated features) which would raise the overall quality of the proposition and attract potential users of the facility to Bognor Regis. The most appropriate location for the Centre based on an assessment of the Gloucester Road site co-owned by Arun DC and Butlins Skyline Ltd. To what extent can the facility become a standalone, all year round attraction to visitors as well as residents of Bognor Regis, Arun District and the wider community in the region? 1.3 Methodology The research has been undertaken using a broad base of quantitative and qualitative methods including numerous face to face interviews with relevant individuals and organisations; watersports experts, visitors to Bognor Regis, local watersports clubs, watersports National Governing Bodies (NGBs); workshops held with experts within Arun DC and stakeholders previously consulted for the Seafront Strategy research (see Consultees List in 12.1). This data is supported by questionnaires aimed at different target groups as well as accompanying secondary data. The results provide substantial data and information for effective analysis of the potential development of a Watersports Centre in Bognor Regis; a business case and viable financial model. The key phases of the project include: An assessment of the environment and the range of sports that might be supported and the experience levels required to take advantage of the sports offered. (The current beach front can be exposed under certain weather conditions and tide heights and under these circumstances are not conducive to beginners) Expert input based on physical assessment. 5 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

8 1.0 Introduction Research into possible seafront modifications/adaptations that could help to make the beach area more accessible to beginners and more learner and family friendly. Identification of the key technical considerations impacting on the design and operation of the facility. Identification of potential markets and the requirements of those markets (i.e. sports covered, training courses, equipment purchase, maintenance and hire, access, seasonality, value, accommodation, food, entertainment etc). What would attract them to Bognor Regis? Part assessed through undergraduate undertaken market research of the local water sports dominant areas (Bracklesham, West Wittering, Hayling Island, Bournemouth (surfing)). Conducting stakeholder workshops following up from the Seafront Strategy consultation including representation from local stakeholders such as Felpham Sailing Club and Bognor Regis Yacht Club to ascertain gaps and opportunities for design of and provision at the proposed Centre. Develop market demand assessment based on previous review and survey of similar developments in the UK and beyond e.g. Bournemouth, Dover, Plymouth, Newquay and Weymouth primary and secondary research. Assessment of competition both locally and nationally internet based survey. Assessment of existing and future strategies of sporting NGBs and how the potential Centre could operate in conjunction with these. Identification and review of operational best practice; other watersports centres and operators in UK and Europe and NGBs (e.g. RYA, BCU). Identification of potential commercial partners/operators/investors. Identification of non core value (e.g. hotel facilities, entertainment) and implications for tourism in Arun district, to Butlin s and for the University secondary research drawing on a range of existing surveys in the area and beyond. Potential impact on beach front, the local population and the marine environment. Assessment of the potential planning position/restrictions/issues for the potential location(s). Define key operational and design features to attract visitors. Development of alternative operational models and associated costs and risks (operational and commercial); NB different sports and operational models (training versus hire only) could have significant cost implications. Preparation of financial model (capital and revenue projection). Development of business case. The work was managed by the University, sourcing expertise internally from University staff in Sports Science, Adventure Education and the School of Enterprise Management and Leadership, supplemented with contracted input of RQA business consultants, Baqus Boxall Sayer, quantity surveyors, and seeking the technical expertise of other external specialists, from Arun DC, West Sussex County Council, sporting organisations, at national, regional and local level, plus consultation with Butlins Skyline Ltd. senior management. 1.4 Project Scope At this time, the scope of the project is not constrained although it is expected to develop and explore a range of options based on budgets and the range/quality of services to be provided. It will include sea based activity and sand based activities. It is also not constrained to a single location and may involve links to other areas e.g. to provide learner oriented conditions. The destination impact assessment will be based on Bognor Regis and its immediate surrounding areas and can feed in with similar exercises being undertaken for Manhood Peninsula and Chichester to form a wider picture. At this time watersports are intended to include personal and small boating craft. Craft which require a mooring, marina or harbour to operate from are to be excluded from the Study. 1.5 Project deliverables An assessment of the market for the Centre, the sports to be supported, the services to be offered and the market demand A business case for the Watersports Centre A destination impact assessment including for the University of Chichester A critical success factor statement in terms of location, design and operational features. Cost estimations for the Watersports Centre building and associated facilities. Mapping of existing clubs on the South Coast in relation to the Watersports Centre site. 6 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

9 2.0 Strategic Context

10 2.0 Strategic Context 2.1 Introduction The Study has researched the strategic context for a Watersports Centre in Bognor Regis at local, regional and national level. The focus being on how the Centre would contribute to the regeneration of the area; including business and employment opportunities, development of watersports facilities and participation, growth in visitor numbers and broadening of profile, alignment with both Butlins Skyline Ltd and the University of Chichester s future development plans. 2.2 Bognor Regis Regeneration Background The potential development of a Watersports Centre in Bognor Regis is a key element of a wider regeneration programme known as the Bognor Regis Seafront Strategy. There is a potential change taking place in people s attitudes to UK resorts and holidays, caused in part by the economic downturn and changes in climate but also the increasing cost and terrorist threat to travel. This is driving the rise in the Staycation evidenced locally by Butlin s increase in visitor numbers and the growth of visitor numbers to other British resorts, especially those with destination attractions Newquay with the Fistral Surf Centre and Littlehampton s East Beach Cafe. The ongoing regeneration of Bognor Regis has the opportunity to fully take advantage of this trend to build on the significant success so far. Arun DC is responding to the needs of local residents, and changes in the UK leisure and tourism market, by supporting a major programme of investment across the town through the Bognor Regis Regeneration Task Force. A fantastic opportunity exists to create a distinctive, competitive and high-quality leisure destination that is dynamic and successful without compromising what is good about the town s existing features. It is understood that the seafront and the sea itself are without doubt the town s primary assets and they should therefore play a major part in the overall regeneration process. Like many British seaside towns, the popularity of Bognor Regis has steadily declined as the rising sophistication of the British consumer has lead to increased competition both at home and abroad. The rise in no frills flights and the decreased appeal of the bucket and spade British holiday have put unavoidable pressure on seaside towns like Bognor Regis to reinvent themselves or risk becoming dangerously outdated. The Seafront Strategy has therefore been developed to identify the strengths and weaknesses of Bognor Regis seafront and to prepare a co-ordinated programme of possible developments and projects that have been tested and consulted upon with the public History Bognor Regis is a classic English seaside town. For centuries it was a small fishing village with a handful of cottages. In 1787, Sir Richard Hotham, a wealthy London businessman began to develop the town into a bathing resort to rival Brighton. The town was established with Regency architecture at its core and for a period enjoyed a reputation as an exclusive and fashionable resort. It was the choice of royalty and the Regis suffix of the town s name was added in honour of this. The town is dotted with blue plaques, marking the former residences of the cultural elite, names recognisable around the world, who made the town their home. More recently, the establishment of a Butlin s Resort brought a different type of visitor to the town. This was followed by cheaper flights to the continent with increasingly affordable foreign holidays taking away the UK visitor market. The decline of the British seaside resort has left many towns with serious social problems and a history of poor investment in physical infrastructure. Bognor Regis has not managed to escape these issues. (Old UK Photos, 2005) Geography The Arun District is located on the South Coast and is one of seven districts within West Sussex. The District is located within the Sussex Coast Sub-Region of the wider South East Region. It has strong cultural, economic and housing market links with neighbouring West Sussex coastal districts and this is reflected in patterns of movement for work, shopping, entertainment and education. Added problems include, lower earnings, higher levels of unemployment, lower rates of business formation, a poorer qualified workforce and an ageing population. It is recognised as an area of social and economic deprivation in much need of regeneration. 8 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

11 2.0 Stategic Context Arun District covers an area of 22,092 hectares (85 square miles) and has an estimated population of 146,400 (ONS Mid-Year Estimate 2007). Nearly 80% of this population (over 110,000) live in coastal urban areas centred on the two main towns of Bognor Regis and Littlehampton. Both towns have merged with neighbouring settlements to form larger built-up areas, although the different settlements still retain distinguishable village identities. The Bognor Regis urban area, including Pagham, Aldwick, Bersted, Felpham and Middleton-on-Sea, has a combined population of over 60,000. (Google Maps, 2011) LONDON BOGNOR REGIS The population continues to grow with significant housing developments taking place to the North of the town as well as along the A259 en route into Bognor Regis. The north of the District is predominantly rural forming part of the Sussex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The south of the District (including the study area) falls within the West Sussex coastal plain. Arun boasts nine Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) of which two are located within the study area. Bognor Regis and Littlehampton are Arun s main service, employment, retail and social centres. The traditional seaside resorts attract significant numbers of visitors, while also offering manufacturing and warehouse premises that are important to the District s overall employment. Bognor Regis is Arun s largest retail centre and also contains Butlins Skyline Ltd and a campus of the University of Chichester. However, many Arun residents travel to larger centres outside the District for employment, shopping and entertainment, particularly to Chichester and Worthing. Transport communications are dominated by eastwest routes along the Sussex coast, linking Arun with Worthing and Brighton to the east, and Chichester and Portsmouth to the west. The main road links are the A27 trunk road and the A259, both of which suffer from severe congestion during peak times. The South Coast rail line also connects the main towns along the south coast, although Bognor Regis is served only by a branch line. North-south road links are provided by the A29, A284 and A280 however they are generally less effective. The Arun Valley line serving Bognor Regis provides a direct rail link to London Victoria, central Sussex and Gatwick Airport Key Elements of the Bognor Regis Regeneration Strategy The aim of the Seafront Strategy will help to establish Bognor Regis as a first class coastal destination. The seafront will be transformed with a year round quality offer to deliver fun, entertainment and enjoyment to both residents and visitors, through a total pleasure experience of outstanding architecture and design, arts and culture, sunshine and sports activities. Visitors will stay longer and spend more. The seafront will become a key driver of the local economy attracting investment and delivering quality jobs for local people. The Seafront Strategy is a major factor in a wider regeneration scheme already successfully being delivered including Sainsbury s and the St Modwen redevelopment as well as a 12million investment in the University of Chichester s Bognor Regis campus. As well as facilitating over 500 million worth of development for the town, helping to transform Bognor Regis into a first class coastal region, the Bognor Regis Regeneration Task Force is also focussing on: addressing pockets of deprivation; raising average educational attainment, skill levels and wage levels; improving transport and industrial infrastructure; attracting investment and spend ; reducing the high levels of out commuting ; increasing affordable and attractive housing; and addressing the challenges for small and medium sized businesses. The Seafront Strategy objectives are as follows: Establish guiding principles for the regeneration of the seafront to become a more vibrant destination and an integral part of the renaissance of Bognor Regis (in conjunction with proposals for the Regis Centre). Re-establish the seafront as a high quality visitor destination and local resource, with an improved environment to meet local/visitor expectations and the needs of all age and ability groups. Improve the range and quality of the visitor experience by attracting new facilities and upgrading the existing offer to bring a greater sense of life and vitality to the seafront without compromising existing strengths. Establish, maintain and insist on the highest quality of service, offer and welcome, ensuring that each seafront feature individually and collectively helps to define Bognor Regis as a destination. 9 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

12 2.0 Stategic Context Improve connectivity and linkages and the quality of the pedestrian environment along the seafront and between the town centre and its parks, capitalising on the strengths of existing character areas. Encourage activities and investment that broaden the appeal to new market segments and encourage a higher level of spend by visitors. Balance the needs for commercial facilities with the protection and enhancement of historic buildings, natural features and public spaces. Expand current marketing activities and develop an expanded events and cultural programme. Improve the public realm, give it a consistent character, and create a hierarchy of public spaces. Promote sustainable modes of transport including walking and cycling. Key to the overall regeneration of the town will be effective marketing in order to help rid the town of its bugger Bognor stereotype. Any marketing strategies adopted must focus on the key target markets as well as reflect the overall vision for the town. It is important to remember that Bognor Regis is ideally situated between the beautiful Sussex Downs and the English Channel, with relatively easy access from London; therefore it will be important to market its safe and stunning environment through a variety of ways including both traditional and innovative events Opportunities and Challenges Bognor Regis has the opportunity to adapt to changing market trends and provide a competitive and diverse range of facilities and experiences on the seafront which meet current requirements for visitors and residents alike. A high quality seafront environment, with multiple opportunities for visitor activity throughout the year, and which increases length of stay, is essential to Bognor Regis success as a tourist destination and not simply a local visitor destination. The growing trend for domestic holidays resulting from the current UK recession and the collapse of the Pound against the Euro should also bring more and new visitors to Bognor Regis seafront from both the UK and overseas. In January 2009, the Guardian reported that the UK was poised for a weak Pound tourism boom with many holiday companies reporting strong growth in domestic bookings, while overseas visitors now see the UK as good value for money. More specifically, Butlins Skyline Ltd. in Bognor Regis reports guest bookings for 2009 being up 15 per cent on 2008 for the peak July- August holiday period. The growing trend in activity based and adventure holidays, combined with Bognor Regis development sites, create a broad range of opportunities for improving the town as follows: Make better, distinctive, active use of the seafront without compromising the quieter character areas. Develop a higher quality offer encompassing leisure, retail, food and environment which has a broad appeal to all sectors of the population. Establish a strong unique selling point which all seafront improvement initiatives should support. The Arun DC visitor survey (2004), Bognor Regis national reputation, and EDAW s own analysis suggests this should be family fun with an emphasis on health, sport and physical activity. Improve the seafront s connections with the town centre. Provide a marina, aquarium, Watersports Centre or other major attraction. Enhance the Regis Centre site as a location for improved visitor/leisure facilities. Pedestrianise the Esplanade if associated transport issues can be resolved. Create an improved programme of events to boost activity on, and visitors to, the seafront and raise Bognor Regis national profile. Build on Bognor Regis historic association with family entertainment, fitness and well-being. Provide an official first point of contact for all seafront issues. Work in partnership with Butlins and others to ensure their ongoing investment and improvements reflect this strategy and Bognor Regis wider regeneration ambitions. A marketing campaign to re-brand Bognor Regis as a modern, fun, family-oriented destination with lots to offer. While Bognor Regis has many strengths and opportunities it will be vitally important to overcome various challenges in order to create a great place to live, work and visit. In , the Communities and Local Government Select Committee undertook an inquiry into English coastal towns. The report, published in March 2007, provided a realistic picture of the situation and found many case studies of successful, heritage-led regeneration and economic diversification. It also highlighted the complex range of issues facing coastal towns, including: Changes in tourism trends. The seasonality of the seaside economy. Frequent high levels of deprivation. A range of housing issues, including a lack of affordable housing due to high levels of second-home ownership and disproportionate levels of unsuitable accommodation. Issues concerning coastal erosion. Physical isolation which is often a barrier to economic growth. High levels of in-migration of older people, and outmigration of younger people, placing pressure on social and community services. 10 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

13 2.0 Stategic Context All of these issues apply to Bognor Regis and in addition, the following specific challenges were revealed by EDAW s site survey and research, combined with results of extensive consultation carried out by Arun DC for the Seafront Strategy. The lack of any distinctive building, service or facility. The poor quality and limited range of activities and facilities along the seafront. The lack of leisure facilities to meet the needs of children, teens, old people and families alike. The poor quality condition and facilities of the pier. The fenced-in appearance of Butlin s from the promenade. The poor provision of facilities for cyclists along the seafront. Safety and security, particularly after dark. General requirements for upgrading the appearance of the promenade. The development of a Watersports Centre in Bognor Regis would fit in well with the overall strategy for Bognor Regis and it could significantly help the town in overcoming the numerous challenges and in taking advantage of the fantastic opportunities. The development of such a facility has the potential to provide something distinctive to attract visitors, give residents something to be proud of and in addition, it could provide the perfect foundation for taking advantage of the rise in domestic travel and the weakening Pound. It was noted during consultation for the Watersports Centre, that regeneration requires significant increase in the number of visitors to the area and the Watersports Centre could provide that attraction. It will also be important to provide top class facilities supported by partnerships with local businesses as well as effective marketing in order to help make the proposed Centre an all year round facility and thereby help to reduce the towns current vulnerability to the seasonality of the seaside economy. As a result of its proposed location there is also a fantastic opportunity to work with Butlins in helping to link the town and seafront together. Finally, the development of a Watersports Centre in Bognor Regis would almost certainly support Arun s vision of creating a vibrant and attractive seafront for residents and visitors alike with an improved public realm; enhanced seafront accessibility and linkages with the town centre; and an increased range of quality family facilities, activities and experiences for any weather. All of which combine to create a more distinctive and attractive seafront offer as well as a significant step in the right direction for the overall regeneration of Bognor Regis. 2.3 Arun DC Local Strategy The increase in domestic tourism to Arun has caused an increased need for effective tourism and visitor strategies in order to maximise visitor numbers. The West Sussex Structure Plan was first published in 2004 and this essentially gives priority to any development of a sustainable nature which improves the range and quality of experiences for tourists. It is recognised that the coast has great tourism value however; the natural environment that visitors seek is under development pressure. (A strategic framework for the West Sussex Visitor Economy, 2005) As highlighted in the West Sussex Ahead of the Game Plan , the opportunities associated with the 2012 Olympic Games must be exploited. It is estimated that being the host of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games could deliver a 2.1 billion boost to UK tourism over and secure a lasting legacy for the whole country. (Tourism contribution to the economy, 2010) The Games provide the foundations for increasing the number of both domestic and inbound visitors to the region therefore developments to the area could prove pivotal in promoting West Sussex as a tourist destination as well as improving the business tourism offer in West Sussex. It is predicted that the 2012 Games could help to increase visitor spend in the county by 7.5% in (West Sussex Ahead of the Game Plan ) The Coast to Capital, Local Enterprise Partnership Strategy focuses on entrepreneurship and international growth and aims to transform business and economic performance so that the area (see Coast to Capital Document, 2010);can compete in any international marketplace. It is recognised that there is lower business performance in Coastal West Sussex compared to the area as a whole but with the potential of greater employment growth in the creative and tourism sectors. (Coast to Capital, 2010) Increased internationalised businesses can have positive knock on effects through causing inwards investment, strengthening the economy and providing opportunities to develop the area in order to increase visitor numbers and spending, which will in turn help local businesses prosper. Increased visitor numbers to coastal West Sussex towns like Bognor Regis provides local businesses with seasonal but crucial trade. The LEP Strategy has the opportunity to support various local businesses through internationalisation and helping them to trade on a year round basis. It also aims to improve the area as a nice place to live and work. It is important to note that the Sussex by the Sea strategy for Arun is no longer being used. The strategy essentially recognised that Arun has the 2nd largest visitor economy 11 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

14 2.0 Stategic Context in West Sussex with over 5 million visitor days and 179 million being spent by visitors annually. Tourism is also one of its key sources of employment supporting over 3,000 jobs amounting to 6% of the workforce. (Sussex by the Sea, 2006) 2.4 Butlins Skyline Ltd Development Strategy Bourne leisure is one of the UK s leading leisure businesses which operates three of the leading holiday brands, Haven Holidays, Warner Leisure Hotels and Butlins Skyline Ltd. The company boasts approximately 50 holiday sites around the UK and 12,000 members of staff. Bourne Leisure bought Butlin s from the Rank Organisation in 2000 and since their takeover Butlin s has seen steady growth in visitor numbers as a result of numerous contributing factors, including the noticeable improvements in facilities, entertainment and staff attitudes. (The Guardian, 2009) Butlin s resort opened in Bognor Regis in 1960 and signed a new 125-year lease with Arun DC in September 2007 as part of a deal that will see Bourne Leisure increase investment in the site. While some consultees viewed Butlins Skyline Ltd as a negative influence on Bognor Regis, it is a major attraction for day and longer-stay visitors, and therefore a major driver in the economy. Butlins Skyline Ltd has ambitious refurbishment plans for the resort, replacing aging chalet accommodation with serviced apartments and contemporary hotels such as the Shoreline Hotel which opened in (Bognor Regis Seafront Strategy) They are investing heavily in the Bognor Regis site, with 13 million being spent on new swimming pool facilities (which are very popular amongst day visitors) and another 27 million being spent on a new hotel replacing existing chalets and therefore freeing more ground space and creating more green areas. A significant part of the plans for Butlin s, Bognor Regis is the gradual reorientation of the site. With the exception of the new Shoreline Hotel, all of Butlin s buildings turn their backs to the seafront and access to and from the beach and promenade from inside the resort is difficult with only one, small and inconspicuous entrance/exit through the Gloucester Road car park. They are therefore failing to optimise Butlin s excellent location on the seafront which is a huge attraction for a significant amount of Butlin s visitors. The current boundary going around the Butlin s site consists of a two-metre, metal, spiked fence sitting behind and parallel to the sea-wall. Behind the fence is extensive parking for Butlin s residential guests. This creates a highly unattractive proposition for seafront users and visitors to Butlin s and in addition it fails to demonstrate an integrated approach to the Bognor Regis leisure offer which is an important part of the Seafront Strategy. (Bognor Regis Seafront Strategy) 2.5 University of Chichester The development of a Watersports Centre on the Bognor Regis Seafront will bring significant benefit to the University of Chichester which has a strong presence within the town. The University operates its second campus from a site opposite Hotham Park. This site is currently being developed with the establishment of the School of Enterprise Management and Leadership (SEMAL) in the historic Dome building, the construction of the new Learning Resource Centre and the creation of business incubator units over the next two years. This will provide resources for entrepreneurs, businesses and the local community and support business creation and growth. It will also enable the University to work towards providing a sustainable vibrant campus community for students and staff to enjoy. Supporting the creation of a sustainable future for Bognor Regis and the wider West Sussex Coastal strip is a core plank of the University s own strategy; To make a significant contribution to the sustainable economic, cultural, social and educational regeneration of the communities that the University of Chichester serves, particularly in coastal and rural West Sussex. The strategy continues to state, The decision in 2007 to retain and invest in the Bognor Regis campus remains central to the University s Strategy and to the achievement of its priorities. The ambitions for this site require sustained and highly focused partnership working, and will have a positive impact on the economic, social, educational and cultural prospects for the area. A landmark Watersports Centre will support these strategic aims and be; An attraction to students thinking of coming to the University. A centre for watersports education on a number of courses. A source of employment both for adventure education and business students. Potential use includes: i) integral teaching and learning, coach education, work experience, practical and teaching experience, linked to its Adventure Education degrees and other sports related courses; and ii) developing student club and recreational opportunities 12 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

15 2.0 Stategic Context through the Student Union Sports Development programmes; there are strong, existing links with the RYA, a foundation for developing substantial use of the Watersports Centre from students across the University; and iii) sand based sports such as beach soccer, beach volleyball, sand fitness training, all growing in popularity; the proposed sand sports element would allow for the development of student clubs, competitions and entry into leagues and national competition; all would be strongly supported and promoted by the SU. An Adventure Sports Club has been launched by the Student Union in 2010/11, bringing together the existing Paddling, Surfing and Climbing clubs and a home base is being sought for these and other watersports activities. 2.6 National Governing Body (NGB) and Regional Sports Strategies An integral part of this stage of the research is to understand any regional watersports strategies in addition to the key strategies of the sporting National Governing Bodies (NGB s), so that the proposed Bognor Regis Watersports Centre is developed as a resource able to contribute to the delivery of these strategies. Regional Strategies Active Sussex or the Sussex County Sports Partnership Trust (SCSPT) is an organisation which aims to facilitate the delivery of sporting initiatives and essentially increase participation levels in sport and physical activity across the Sussex area (which includes Bognor Regis). The organisation is government funded but in fact operates as a registered charity and independent trust and is one of 49 County Sports Partnerships across the country. It plays a key role in delivering the Government s target of increasing the number of people participating in sport and physical activity by two million, by The SCSPT aim is to bring together all key partners involved in the sporting sector at a county level whilst providing a high quality single delivery system for sport and physical activity in Sussex, working with various partners, including Education, Local Authorities and Governing Bodies of Sport. Core areas of work for the SCSPT include: Providing strategic guidance and direction. Offering funding advice. Working with community sports clubs and National Governing Bodies of Sport. Coordinating volunteering programmes. Helping to develop school-club links. Facilitating disability sport development. Organising training and coach development courses. (Sussex County Sports Partnership Trust, 2009) The SCSPT can provide an effective link for the potential Bognor Regis Watersports Centre and the opportunity to work as part of a wider sporting strategy should not be ignored. The proposed Centre has an ideal opportunity to work alongside the SCSPT by looking to increase participation levels in water and sand sports in the Bognor Regis area. Furthermore, Bognor Regis close proximity to a substantial amount of schools including The Regis School, Felpham College and the Chichester High Schools as well as the University of Chichester, help to provide an opportunity for partnerships and club links to be established. A West Sussex Strategy that could benefit from the development of a Watersports Centre in Bognor Regis is the West Sussex Ahead of the Game Plan for the 2012 Games: The strategy has been introduced with a mission of securing maximum benefit from the 2012 Games for West Sussex residents, communities and businesses. There are various benefits associated with the strategy which compliment objectives within both the West Sussex Sustainable Community Strategy and the Local Area Agreement (2). Greater participation in sport and physical activity is one of the key objectives and the aim will be to increase participation by using inspiration from the 2012 Games in order to help create a healthier population. It is worth noting that the proposed Watersports Centre is looking to offer various sports including, windsurfing, sailing, kayaking and volleyball all of which are Olympic sports. The strategy also aims to increase disability sport through the West Sussex Disability Sport Framework. Actions to make these things happen are being supported by the SCSPT and NHS West Sussex. The development of a Watersports Centre in Bognor Regis would support such a strategy by helping to provide a legacy for the 2012 Olympic Games. Such a development would also help to increase opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to participate and therefore potentially contribute to the objective of increasing adult participation by 1% each year. The West Sussex Ahead of the Game Plan has also highlighted the importance of using opportunities associated with the 2012 Games to boost the visitor economy whilst ensuring a sustainable tourism strategy is in place. It is predicted that favourable exchange rates and 13 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

16 2.0 Stategic Context the prospect of the 2012 Olympics mean the tourism sector is likely to grow by 3.5% per annum between 2010 and (BBC, 2010) The Bognor Regis Watersports Centre has the opportunity to support sustainable tourism after the Games by offering a unique attraction to a different type of visitor profile which might not normally come to Bognor Regis or even West Sussex. Finally, it is important to consider the business opportunities that the 2012 Games provide. It is estimated that the organisation and staging of the London 2012 Games will need over 7,000 direct contracts, which will form supply chains of around 75,000 opportunities. (West Sussex Ahead of the Game Plan) This could provide a real opportunity for local enterprise in West Sussex (supported by the Coast to Coast Local Enterprise Partnership) and for the regeneration of Bognor Regis with the iconic Watersports Centre acting as a catalyst. Discussions with NGBs of a number of sports have helped to generate an understanding of what they are aiming to achieve with their respective strategies and therefore how the proposed development in Bognor Regis can support these aims and objectives integrated within their overall plans. The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is the recognised National Governing Body for sailing, windsurfing and power boating. A key part of their mission statement is to increase participation and enjoyment in boating by, inspiring more adults and children to go sailing more often and increasing the satisfaction of participants and volunteers to sustain and grow sailing participation. The RYA recognises that sailing particularly, has gained a stereotype of being a rather elitist sport and a key part of their mission is to overcome this view and increase participation amongst different target groups and therefore alter the demographics of the sport. For example the Onboard Plan, has been introduced with the primary aim of increasing participation amongst local groups such as school children and then keeping them in the sport by feeding them into local clubs. This provides an opportunity for the proposed Watersports Centre to work in partnership with local sailing clubs such as Bognor Regis Yacht Club, Felpham Sailing Club and Pagham Yacht Club by offering taster sessions or short courses in order to provide the introduction to the sport then these participants can be fed into the local clubs. This plan could also prove to support the overall regeneration strategy for the town as it provides a way of supporting existing local clubs rather than competing with them for membership. It was recognised at the project Stakeholder workshop that there is a real niche for those who simply want to have a go at sailing without having to become a member of a club. A further plan introduced by the RYA is the Sailability Programme which looks to encourage and support people with disabilities to take up sailing and in turn facilitate sites to develop sailing opportunities. With the upcoming 2012 Olympics and of course Paralympics the prospect of including more opportunities for individuals with disabilities should be considered. The Sailability Programme also fits in with one of the core work areas of the SCSPT which (as stated earlier) is to facilitate disability sport development. Compliance with the new Equality Act is an essential component of the proposed Watersports Centre development and providing sports opportunities for disabled people could help to create a multi sports centre for all to enjoy. Teen 15 is a windsurfing strategy introduced by the RYA which aims to get 15 children under the age of 15 learning and then racing against other clubs. This plan could be especially relevant as according to the online Community survey roughly 43% of local people would like to see windsurfing being offered at the proposed Watersports Centre. Windsurfing is a popular sport along the South coast and there is no reason as to why it should not be included as part of the Bognor Regis development. Finally, with regards to RYA strategy, the organisation has also started approaching clubs in order to see what their individual needs are (such as improved facilities or additional equipment) so that they can look at new ways for funding. They are trying to encourage each club to deliver a sustainable development plan. This could prove to be an effective way of supporting sailing and windsurfing clubs as well as RYA approved schools and ultimately help them to get more people in sport on a more regular basis. (Dinghy Sailing, 2010) 14 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

17 2.0 Stategic Context Rowing or more specifically coastal rowing is a sport that could be considered for the potential Watersports Centre. Much like sailing, rowing has been specified a stereotype of being a rather elitist sport and British Rowing are trying to move the sport away from this label. They are trying to generate more participants through new activities by encouraging Rowing for life through clubs with excellent facilities and well-supported volunteers and by inspiring people through success on the world stage and at London The main strategic document for the organisation is their Whole Sport Plan which has various key values including: Recognising that the development of the sport depends on the development of all British Rowing s member clubs, and therefore adopting policies that enable each of them to achieve their full potential. Providing a welcoming environment and support for participants to enjoy the sport at whatever level they choose to participate. Playing an active part in developing rowing as part of the broader sporting and social agenda, and to benefit local communities. Demographically, Bognor Regis has a relatively ageing population therefore it would be beneficial to provide activities that would be popular amongst this particular target group. British Rowing recognises the social side of rowing and therefore looks to target older people within their strategic plans. They have introduced Explore Rowing, which is a key part of their national plan for 2009 to 2013 and a fundamental part of the 2012 Olympic Legacy which ultimately enables their clubs to attract more rowers by helping them with the support and resources they need to keep both new and existing rowers in the sport. At the core of British Rowing s new programme will be 50 rowing clubs that will be given 25,000 packages to purchase new and specially designed boats. Explore Rowing aims to teach people how to row in 8 to 12 week courses as well as provide links from each club so that people can set themselves challenges and row in different areas of the country. They can follow the British Tour or just row socially. When individuals complete the Explore Rowing elements they get a learn to row passport which allows them to row at any Explore Rowing club. The idea behind the scheme is that it will allow individuals to explore other rowing clubs and therefore different rowing environments. This could be an opportunity to bring new visitors to Bognor Regis through offering an Explore Rowing club. It may also appeal to the ageing demographics of the town as rowing is recognised as a form of low impact physical activity. British rowing also works in partnership with British University and Colleges Sport (BUCS). With the University of Chichester, which specialises in sport, just a five minute walk from the proposed site, a real opportunity exists to host university rowing competitions and therefore attract more people to the facility and Bognor Regis. (British Rowing, 2010) The British Canoe Union (BCU) comprises of two distinct operating divisions; GB Canoeing which is responsible for the GB Teams (Olympic and Non Olympic), liaison with the International Canoe Federations and the Development of the UK Coaching Framework and Coaching Awards. Canoe England is the membership body for paddlers, clubs, centres and associates in England. The mission statement for the BCU is quite simply helping and inspiring people to go canoeing. (BCU Development Plan Summary, 2009) In more general terms, they are trying to get more people into canoes and they are specifically looking to encourage more women and more people with disabilities to take up the sport as participation is generally lower amongst these two groups. The BCU and in particular Canoe England have introduced a development plan for 2009 to 2013 which has a series of strategic objectives collectively aspiring to reach the main aim of increasing participation through creating more paddlers, (including canoeing and kayaking), providing more opportunities, and providing more pathways. The key objectives are as follow: To develop a world leading club and centre system that supports and encourages clubs and centres to grow and develop whilst providing inclusive opportunities to paddlers at all levels and for all disciplines. 15 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

18 2.0 Stategic Context To increase participation across the community and in all age groups with specific initiatives to increase the numbers of women, girls and disabled people. Young Peoples Programme developing and increasing school club links, young leaders and volunteers. Improved information and increased access to water. Improved facilities. The development of facilities in Bognor Regis could integrate with the objectives of Canoe England in particular through providing a centre with regular access for all paddlers at all levels and no matter what discipline in order to increase participation within the local community. It is also important to consider the numerous benefits associated with canoeing and kayaking. There are various health benefits as well as educational advantages and the sport can provide an effective way of combating social exclusion. For example Street Paddler was introduced as a way of targeting young people at risk of offending or with disadvantaged backgrounds and getting them off the streets. This plan could be beneficial in helping to reduce crime rates and anti social behaviour in Bognor Regis. In order to effectively combat anti social behaviour and encourage youth groups to participate in canoeing, kayaking and other sports, affordability of the activities offered at the Watersports Centre will be crucial. Finally, the Canoe England objective of developing and increasing school club links works in combination with one of the SCSPT s core work areas, helping to develop school club links. Finally 53.3% of respondents of the community questionnaire confirmed that they would like to see kayaking offered as part of the proposed Watersports Centre development (Hayle Canoe Club, 2007) Kitesurfing is a rapidly growing sport within the UK and the NGB for the sport is the British Kitesurfing Association (BKSA). Although the organisation is relatively new, (starting in 1999), on April 16th 2010 the BKSA were granted recognition as the National Governing Body for the sports of powerkiting, kitelandboarding, kitebuggy and kitesurfing by Sport England, Sport Scotland, Sport Wales and Sport Northern Ireland. (For the purpose of the study kitesurfing is the main focus.) Due to the fact that the BKSA is a very new governing body there is currently no strategic documentation available but they are looking to produce a five year plan. The organisation has just accepted a grant to start developing strategic documentation and a draft version will be available in April However some of the main BKSA objectives are as follows: Keep developing its training scheme for beginners, instructors and examiners. Keep developing the BKSA schools network. Promote grass roots competitions/events held by clubs. Recommend all beginners to do a course at a BKSA recognised school. Promote safe kite flying practices. The BKSA schools manual provides the requirements that would need to be fulfilled if the Bognor Regis Watersports Centre were to integrate an approved kitesurfing school as part of the development. This could be beneficial if kitesurfing were to be offered at the proposed Centre as it would be important to offer BKSA approved courses in order to ensure good or best practice, improve the safety of third parties or other beach users and also to encourage participation and achievement within the sport. Providing a school within the development would tie in effectively with the BKSA objective of expanding its schools network and therefore support from the organisation would be provided. Grass roots competitions and events could also be offered at the proposed Centre as a way of increasing visitor numbers to the town whilst taking advantage of Bognor Regis relatively straight coastline which is ideal for spectators. As highlighted during discussions with the BKSA, they are fundamentally trying to increase participation by providing more opportunities for people to kite-surf. The organisation also understands the importance of increasing safety awareness of all participants. Discussions have emphasised the need for the UK to follow in the footsteps of the French who have recognised the importance of taking advantage of their significant coastline by providing more opportunities for participation within sports like kitesurfing. For example the BKSA estimates that there are 3 to 4 times more participants in France compared to the UK. (Kitesurfing on the Kent/Sussex Border, 2010) 16 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

19 2.0 Stategic Context Similar to kitesurfing, stand up paddle boarding (SUP) is a relatively new sport in the UK and its popularity is steadily growing. There is no official NGB for the sport although Canoe England has recognised its popularity and is therefore starting to make provisions for the sport. The British Stand Up Paddle Association (BSUPA) is a not for profit and limited company by guarantee that is looking to develop the sport and become the recognised NGB. They have no strategic documentation drawn up at this time however clear objectives are shown in the BSUPA mission statement. Principally, they are looking to: Grow the sport through SUP clubs, schools, and SUP events, whether they are on flat water, surf or inland waterways. Provide coaching through an accredited BSUPA coaching scheme, accredited BSUPA schools and hire centres and promoting good practice. Encourage safety through working with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA), Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA) and government and nongovernment organisations to promote safety. (BSUPA, 2010) Their aim is to develop the sport through training. An instructor s scheme has already been set up and 50 to 60 new instructors have qualified this year across Poole, Ireland and the Witterings (which is within close proximity to Bognor Regis). Despite the fact that the BSUPA is not an official governing body for the sport, the emphasis on safety and developing the sport could provide a unique opportunity for the potential Watersports Centre to become the first SUP school in Bognor Regis. The sport is very accessible to all ages and abilities therefore the opportunity for various target groups to try something new should be taken into account. The BSUPA (although not officially an NGB) helps to provide some valuable guidelines for the sport as well as a focal point. When looking at the NGB s for various water and sand sports, it is important to understand that not all of the sports researched will necessarily be hosted or offered at the proposed Watersports Centre if the development were to go ahead. It has been sensibly noted that it would be better for the proposed Centre to host four or five sports effectively rather than host nine or ten and do it inadequately. However, it is also important to recognise that some sports participants are relatively independent and self sufficient therefore even if the sport is not taught at the potential Bognor Regis Watersports Centre, they should not be excluded. For example, the British Spear Fishing Association (BSA) is the recognised NGB for Spear Fishing in Britain. It is limited in terms of participant numbers however the sport is popular amongst a diverse range of individuals. For instance a lot of elderly people (even in their 70s and 80s) compete during various spear fishing events and competitions which would suit the demographics of Bognor Regis. Bognor Regis, (with the Bognor Rocks) is recognised as one of the top spear fishing locations in the UK and it would be beneficial to help maintain this. Effective zoning and conflict management would therefore be essential so as to protect spear fishermen from powered craft and in turn to protect other users (such as divers) from the spear fishermen. It is likely that some sports would not conflict due to the fact that their preferred conditions would be different. The Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) is trying to deliver mass participation for 2012 and encourage more people to swim on a more regular basis. This applies to open water swimming and the straight and relatively safe coastline on which Bognor Regis is situated would provide an ideal location. The ASA are very keen to improve facilities for open swimming and would be very supportive of the plans for Bognor Regis if the proposed Centre accommodated their sport. Due to the seasonal nature of open swimming, participants often use local leisure centres for training during the winter period which would help the Watersports Centre to work alongside local facilities like the Arun Leisure Centre. The straight coastline also makes Bognor Regis an ideal location to host Triathlons. British Triathlon has been approached during the study period and it will be important to follow up with them should the Study progress. (Stand up Paddle, 2010) The option to include a sand sports area (as highlighted in section 6) for sports like beach rugby, beach soccer and beach volleyball could potentially provide opportunities for the proposed Watersports Centre to work with the relevant sand sports governing bodies. 17 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

20 2.0 Stategic Context The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is the NGB for rugby in general and it is also the NGB for beach rugby. It has adopted a four year planning cycle to support the development of the grassroots game and within this cycle; Rugby World Cup marks the strategic focus for the recruitment and retention of players. The RFU also aims to increase adult participation in clubs by 37% (36,934) over the plan period. During discussions with the RFU, it was highlighted that the inclusion of a sand sports area in the plans for the Bognor Regis Watersports Centre would be great for improving club links and hosting competitions. The RFU would encourage the development of such facilities and encourage local clubs to use them for beach rugby. (Rugby Football Union, 2010) Discussions with England Beach Soccer have helped to highlight the opportunities associated with providing a sand sports area for beach soccer. In consultation with local football clubs and university football teams the idea to include a sand sports area is met with enthusiasm. There are a vast amount of football clubs in the local area and the sand sports area in Bognor Regis could provide a perfect venue for preseason training, and beach soccer leagues. Beach soccer could be played on a year round basis and therefore maintain the year round usage of the overall facility. Volleyball England is the recognised NGB for volleyball and beach volleyball. The inclusion of a sand sports area at the Bognor Regis Watersports Centre would support Volleyball England with its aim to increase the number of players participating in beach volleyball and ensure a high quality of experience for players and spectators alike (as highlighted in the Volleyball England Strategic Plan, ). In addition and of high relevance to the Bognor Regis Watersports Centre, they are also looking to: Install 10 Permanent multi court beach volleyball centres (3 Coastal, 3 Inland, 4 London) resulting in 500,000 visits including 3,000 weekly participants by Arrange 10 mass participation recreational (4v4) beach volleyball tournaments per year. Arrange 7 high quality Volleyball England Beach Tour events per year. Arrange 2 high quality international beach volleyball events per year. Help to create 20 newly formed beach volleyball clubs. All of the above points should be seen as an opportunity for the Watersports Centre to increase its appeal and maximise visitor numbers through offering a venue for beach volleyball clubs and competitions. Beach volleyball is a popular spectator sport and such competitions and events would help to bring a new type of visitor to the town. As highlighted in the above strategy, Beach Volleyball is the high profile format of the game and attracts significant media interest both Worldwide and in the UK in comparison to its sister disciplines. It is also well established as a sport and will be the only recognised beach sport at the London 2012 Olympic Games. This is important to the Bognor Regis Watersports Centre and would help it to establish itself as multi sports facility and legacy to the 2012 Games therefore linking it with the West Sussex Ahead of the Game Plan. (Volleyball England Strategic Plan, ) (Disney XD beach soccer tour, 2009) NGBs for other relevent sports have been approached during the research process and it will be important to follow up with them should the project progress. 18 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

21 2.0 Stategic Context Most popular facility requirements for NGB s Accommodation Changing Classroom Competitions Convienient Car Hire Restaurant Training Watersports Other Showers Parking/Access Centre Cafe Courses Retailers Facilities NGBs BCU BSUPA Separate rigging area/members area British Rowing Walk in wet cafe, gym for indoor rowing BSA Bait preparing tables BKSA RYA Gym, conference facilities, secure storage Total Tourism National The UK is one of the world s most attractive tourism destinations ranking 7th in the international tourism league in 2009 (although down from 5th in 2005) and being an island nation one of its main attractions is the coast. The UK tourism industry continues to lose global market share as it faces increasing competition from new destinations (down from 6.5% of spend in 1980 to 3.5% in 2009). On an international level, 30 million inbound visits generate an annual spend of 16.5 billion and with regards to domestic travel, it is estimated that UK residents spend 48 billion on day visits and 22 billion on overnight trips. Additionally, the tourism industry supports approximately 2.6 million jobs (one in twelve jobs in the UK (8.7%)) and over 200,000 small and medium-sized enterprises. These figures alone emphasize the importance of the tourism industry to the UK. Visit Britain is Britain s national tourism agency, responsible for promoting Britain overseas and developing Britain s visitor economy. It aims to increase the value of inbound tourism to Britain and the UK by: Maximising the tourism legacy benefits of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. Inspiring visitors from overseas to visit and explore Britain. Delivering a global network to support tourism promotion overseas in mature and developing markets. Championing tourism and engaging industry and Government in support of its growth. Improving the quality of the domestic offer is also important as this will not only benefit the domestic industry, but also help the UK and Britain to attract more international visitors. Domestic spending by UK residents forecast to show growth of 2.6% a year, rising from 72 billion in 2010 to 113 billion in 2020, driven by strong growth in spending on day visits. (Tourism contribution to the economy, 2010) More relevant to seaside towns such as Bognor Regis, is a study, carried out by researchers at Sheffield Hallam University, which found that the seaside tourist industry directly supports some 210,000 jobs. The study found that large numbers of additional jobs are also supported indirectly by tourism through the supply chain for hotels, restaurants and other tourism related businesses. (Yorkshirepost, 2010) This helps to highlight the importance of providing facilities capable of attracting visitors (both domestic and international) in order to strengthen the visitor economy of seaside towns like Bognor Regis. New national strategy available in May Regional Figures from the United Kingdom Tourism Survey (UKTS) suggest that 2009 was without doubt the year of the Staycation, with just over 18.2 million overnight trips undertaken in the South East by domestic visitors, an increase of 12.0% compared to The number of nights spent in the region also increased, up 11.2% to over 52 million, as did visitor spend, up 10.4% to just over 2.5 billion. The number of holiday trips to the South East increased by a considerable 32.6% during 2009 compared 19 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

22 2.0 Stategic Context to 2008, significantly above the UK average of 16.7%. As a consequence, the number of nights spent by domestic visitors in the South East increased by 35.8% to 25.2 million and visitor spend has also increased by 17.0% to 1.3 billion. (Tourism South-East, 2009) The beginning of 2010 however, showed a slightly different pattern as in the period of January to August there were just over 11.5 million domestic tourism trips in the South East, which is a decrease of 8% on the same period in (Tourism Volume and Value, 2010) The regional vision for the visitor economy is mirrored by the West Sussex Vision which is, to create a high quality, thriving, competitive and sustainable tourism industry which generates wealth, promotes environmental quality, enriches the quality of life and brings enjoyment to visitors. Bognor Regis is well placed to take full advantage of the Staycation trend and deliver against regional tourist objectives with the introduction of a Watersports Centre creating a real destination attraction Local According to the Economic Impact of Tourism on Arun; in 2009 an estimated 631,000 staying trips were spent in Arun in 2009, compared to 604,000 in Around, 572,000 (91%) were made by domestic visitors whilst 59,500 (9%) were made by overseas visitors. It was estimated that a staggering 227 million was spent in the area by all visitors which again was a 5.5% increase from 2008 and clearly emphasises the importance of tourism to the area. Furthermore, it is predicted that the 227 million trip expenditure plus an extra 9 million on additional tourism expenditure (money spent on second homes, and on goods and services purchased by friends and relatives visitors were staying with, or visiting) translated to 302 million worth of income for local businesses through direct, indirect and induced effects. The Office for National Statistics employment figures (drawn from the Annual Business Enquiry) shows that an estimated 4500 jobs in Arun are in tourism or tourism related businesses, representing a significant 10.8% of the total employee workforce, which again emphasises the importance of tourism to the District. (Economic Impact of Tourism on Arun, 2009). 2.8 Other Strategy Examples - Catching the Wave In 2004 it was recognised by the Welsh Assembly Government s Strategic Agenda, that Wales boasts a natural and man-made environment that is very rich and diverse. Its 700 mile stretch of spectacular coastline is very much underutilised and it was recognised that this alone provides a fantastic opportunity for tourism and activity based recreation. Research by the Welsh Assembly Government s Tourism Agency has shown that watersports activity is one of the fastest growing sectors within Europe. The Catching the Wave plan focuses on watersports and helping Wales take advantage of the many opportunities available for them to increase their share of the waterrelated tourism market. Importantly, the Welsh Assembly Government also appreciates the effects developing a vibrant marine industry can have on encouraging economic and community regeneration whilst providing significant opportunities for investment and business growth. Similarly Bognor Regis location on the South Coast of England provides it with a unique opportunity to fully exploit the natural assets in the area. Bognor Regis has the advantage of its geographic convenience in comparison to the South West, Bournemouth, etc. Only Brighton is more convenient for London which has many challenges in terms of access and parking. 20 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

23 3.0 Needs and Demand

24 3.0 Needs and Demand 3.1 Introduction It is important to recognise that the watersports market can provide a significant niche for UK tourism. In 2001 activity-led holidays accounted for just over 10% of UK holidays which translates to approximately one million holidays in the South East alone (Tourism South East, 2001). Today, with the economic recession and increased threat of terrorism to transport hubs, domestic travel has started to climb. In 2009, overall, domestic trips within the UK increased by 7% to 126 million after a noticeable rise in demand for this type of holiday (The UK Tourist Statistics, 2009). Furthermore (and particularly relevant to Bognor Regis), as mentioned in Section 2.0, an estimated 631,470 staying trips were spent in Arun alone in 2009 compared to 604,366 in Additionally, Arun experienced a significant increase in day visitors with 3,231,000 in 2009 which was up by 7.8% from (The Economic Impact of Tourism, Arun, 2009) This significant increase could be linked to a number of reasons ranging from changing consumer trends to decreased disposable income and although the recession can seldom be classed as a positive thing, it is important to recognise the opportunities that it brings for UK tourism and more specifically Bognor Regis. There are many locations across the world that are fortunate enough to have natural coastal assets, such as world class waves for surfing, wide open beaches and cross shore winds for Kitesurfing or beautiful reefs for diving. Many of these countries are well aware of these assets and have come up with ways to ensure that they are fully utilised. For example, Biarritz in the South of France has an unavoidable and deeply embedded surf culture despite the fact that the sport was only introduced to the area in 1957 (50 ans de surf à Biarritz, 2007). (Anglet, 2010) The sport of surfing has become integral to the economic success of the Biarritz. The Aquitaine region now has the highest concentration of board sports companies in Europe including 170 organisations working within the industrial, commercial and craft industries. These organisations account for approximately 2000 permanent jobs and 700 million Euros of turnover. In addition, surf schools in the area provide approximately 500 jobs which include both permanent and seasonal positions (Le surf Aujourd hui, 2008). These statistics help to demonstrate the importance a sport can have on the local economy of any town or region and, in addition, it is important to consider that individuals who visit an area for sporting facilities or events tend to be among the high spenders such as sailors who go to Cowes or golfers who go to Spain. As a result, this can have positive effects on local businesses such as restaurants and hotels which evidently contributes to the overall success of the local economy. (Tourism South East, 2001) Although Bognor Regis is not suited to surfing due to its poor swell, the coastline, with its safe bathing areas and south westerly prevailing winds make it an ideal area for sports like windsurfing, sailing and kayaking. Its relatively protected coast helps to optimise visibility for diving and spear fishing. The 2001 UK Tourism Survey estimated that 1.5 million holiday trips were made by UK residents within the UK where the main purpose of the trip was scuba diving, motorboat cruising, sailing or jet skiing. This represented a significant 1.5% of market share and accounted for 2.2% of all holiday spend. (Catching the Wave, 2004) These statistics should be seen as an encouragement for the potential development of a Watersports Centre in Bognor Regis and it must be considered that this would only be one potential, but very significant, target market. According to the Royal Yachting Association, as a result of participation in watersports activities in the UK, the total user spend was 6.4 million for These watersports activities are also classed as a form of adventure tourism, and according Keeling (2003), annual spending by UK holiday visitors that engage in adventure tourism activities during their stay is at least as much as 2 million. Therefore the watersports tourism market could be of significant value to the Arun area, and Bognor Regis in particular. For the purpose of the following section of the report, any activities include small sail boat racing, Small sail boat activities, yacht racing, yacht cruising, powerboating, motor boating/cruising, using personal watercraft, rowing, canoeing, canal boating, water skiing and windsurfing, kitesurfing, surfing, angling from the shore, angling from a boat, outdoor swimming, leisure sub aqua diving, cliff climbing, coastal walking and spending general leisure 22 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

25 3.0 Needs and Demand time at the beach. (Watersport and Leisure participation Report, 2009) In 2009, 13.2 million adults (16 +) participated in at least one of the 21 main watersport activities. This was a significant increase from 2008 (Watersport and Leisure participation Report, 2009). This shows that the UK watersport market can provide huge economic benefits for the areas in which they are provided and that the volume of the market has started to increase after declining for a couple of years. This big increase in the overall number of participants in any activity is influenced heavily by an increase in the most popular activities such as outdoor swimming and spending general leisure time at the beach. This increase could also be down to continuing spells of good weather in the UK, especially in spring 2009 (source: Met Office statistics), improvements to equipment, for example wetsuits and open-top kayaks plus sustained UK Olympic success in sailing and rowing. Alongside the growth in the numbers of participants there has, for several activities, been a decline in the average number of times people participate. This is a reversal of the trend in 2008 and suggests that this year there has been a recovery in casual participants in these activities. The estimation for the participation rate of any activity is 26.28% of adults in the UK, up from 23.03% in the UK. This is a high participation rate of all UK adults, and proves the need for Watersports Centres, especially if the rate is going to continue to increase every year. For the potential Watersports Centre to be developed on the Bognor Regis seafront, the increase in spending general leisure time at the beach and outdoor swimming is of significant advantage. When people are at the beach, the possibility for attracting potential watersport centre users will increase. The increases in other watersport activities also shows the types of sports that potential users have been participating in more in the last year, and these trends should be fully considered in the development of the Watersports Centre. The increased popularity in some of the pre mentioned sports including sailing, windsurfing and canoeing is very significant due to the fact that these sports were among the most popular in the Online Community Survey. From previous watersport and leisure participant surveys, it is apparent that males are more likely to participate in watersports and visit Watersports Centres. This would also need to be taken into consideration when developing the potential centre in Bognor Regis and the types of watersports that the Centre offers would also need to be considered, as males will be the most frequent users. For 14 out of the 21 activities males have at least twice the participation rate of females, these include (in order of lowest to highest order) angling (from the shore), surfing, power boating, angling (from a boat), leisure sub-aqua diving (from the shore and boat), cliff climbing, yacht cruising, rowing/sculling, using personal watercraft, water skiing, windsurfing, small sail boat racing, yacht racing, and kitesurfing. The age group has the highest participation rate in all aggregated participation categories except any boating activity where the youngest age group remains the most active. The age groups participation seems more consistent than their younger counterparts, and over time has remained steady. It is important to note that over time there has been a significant long term decline in participation among the youngest group year olds continue to show higher participation rates in the other, more active activities like canoeing, water skiing, kitesurfing, cliff climbing etc. The 55+ age group are not the most active group in any of the activities in In 2009 their participation dropped compared to This shows that in terms of age groups, year olds will be a significant target group for the Watersports Centre. With the University of Chichester, Bognor Regis campus in close proximity to the proposed site, it would also be beneficial to offer more active watersports to the significant student market. As in previous years, for most activities, those from socioeconomic group AB record higher participation rates than those in other socio-economic groups. However the potential Bognor Regis Watersports Centre should try to attract a wide range of socio-economic groups, due to the fact that 35% of Bognor Regis residents are in the C1 socio-economic classification (Census 2001) and 32.3% of visitors to Bognor Regis are of C2 socio-economic classification. In addition, the potential close proximity of the Centre to Butlin s means that there is a customer base right on the Watersports Centre doorstep. It will be important however to consider that 93% of Butlin s customers come from socioeconomic group C1 or below and although the demographic is shifting slightly higher, it will be imperative not to out price this target group. (The Guardian, 2009) Individuals from socio-economic groups C1 and C2 are the largest single groups in the following 13 activities: outdoor swimming, canoeing, surfing, leisure sub-aqua diving (from the shore and boat), rowing/sculling, water skiing, yacht racing, kitesurfing, angling from the shore, angling from a boat, motor boating/cruising, small sail boat racing and spending general leisure time at the beach. 23 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

26 3.0 Needs and Demand Once again spending general leisure time at the beach has become an increasingly popular activity. This is where consideration should be given to the sand sports that could be introduced to the Centre. People that enjoy spending time at the beach with their family but do not necessarily want to participate in watersports should be a target audience for the potential sand sports such as volleyball. Couples under 55 and those living in a family have the highest participation rates for any activity ; 32.9% and 32.0% respectively have participated in at least one of the surveyed activities in the past year. Due to the large number of people in the family category, families account for the majority of participants in absolute numbers for most activities. The only activities where this is not the case are: rowing, windsurfing, using personal watercraft and kitesurfing in which the largest participation group are those living in student or workers house shares. This demonstrates that the needs of children should be taken into account, with regards to facilities provided, types of watersports available, prices and general activities offered. The majority of those that have not participated in watersports activities in the last 12 months have never done so in the past either. This shows that taster sessions and short courses could be beneficial as a means of encouraging people to try different sports. A large proportion of participants have only started in 2009, which could be down to a number of reasons, and shows that there is a need for more attractive facilities in the south, especially considering that participants living in the south have the highest participant rate in the UK. 43% of participants in sailing and other watersports started in the last year whilst 46% of participants in power/motor boating started in the last 12 months. The other significant group are those who participated in the last 12 months but have not participated previously for more than five years. Only a small proportion of respondents have started in the time scales between these two. Therefore rather than a sustained flow of new people committed to the sport, initial indications are that many people try out watersports each year, but only a minority continue participating in subsequent years. A Watersports Centre, providing an opportunity for people to have a go at a watersport through a short training course or taster session, where membership is not necessary could help the proposed Centre to appeal to a wider group particularly short stay visitors. Having a go whilst on holiday is an important reason why people started to participate in watersports in 2009, and this is highly significant to the potential Bognor Regis Watersports Centre due to its close proximity to Butlin s. In % of all participation in any activity in the UK took place at the coast rather than inland, down from 84% in 2008 and similar to the 82% in Taking an average over the past 3 years this proportion stands at 82.2%. It is not unreasonable to say that Bognor Regis is the ideal place to introduce a Watersports Centre, due to a variety of reasons including, its position on the coast, its close proximity to Butlin s and it is within easy reach of London. (All of the above data has been adapted from the Watersport and Leisure Participation Report, 2009). According to the British Marine Federation, the total revenue of the UK leisure, super yacht and small commercial marine industry in 2009/2010 was billion and the value added was million (m). The map below shows these figures by region. (Industry Revenue by Region, 2009/2010) Although it is safe to say that the value of the watersports alone would be considerably lower than the figures shown above, they could still add significant economic value to the region. Finally, it is important to consider that many overseas visitors come to Britain to participate in a range of sports, including watersports. According to the 2010 Visit Britain Foresight, there were 1.4 million inbound tourists to the UK who played some form of sport whilst visiting, contributing 1.3billion in spending. 24 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

27 3.0 Needs and Demand Although not all of these visitors participated in watersports, it shows that participation in sport is a popular activity for those visiting the UK. Of the 1.4 million visitors, for 244,000 of those, playing sport was the main reason for their visit. The Bognor Regis Watersports Centre has the potential to host a number of international events for sports like sailing, windsurfing and kitesurfing proving an international attraction for competitors and spectators alike. Established examples on the south coast include Cowes Week on the Isle of Wight and the Fat Face Windsurfing Festival held at Hayling Island Sailing Club. As highlighted in section 2 of the report, the 2012 London Olympics should provide a welcome boost to both the inbound and domestic sectors of the market and this should be considered during the potential development of a Watersports Centre in Bognor Regis. Finally, as stated earlier, the weak Pound has also been a contributing factor to the rise in domestic travel and the increase in inbound travel from Europe. According to Visit Britain there was a 1.5 million increase in the number of Spanish visitors to the UK between 2003 and 2008 and the number of Dutch and Italian visitors has also risen. European visitors taking advantage of the exchange rate could prove to be a significant target market for the potential Watersports Centre in Bognor Regis (UK domestic tourism basks in cash-strapped summer, 2008). 25 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

28 3.0 Needs and Demand 3.2. Demographic profile / Catchment analysis In endeavouring to establish potential local usage of the Centre we have looked at a number of analyses of the local population and demographic Bognor Regis Resident Population according to District Ward (Appendix 1) Hotham ward, Marine ward, Orchard ward and Penvensey ward collectively make up the Bognor Regis Town area. For each of the four wards the most dominant group is the age group. This is encouraging with regards to potential usage of the proposed Watersports Centre as it shows that the broad population age of Bognor Regis should not be seen as a limitation with regards to local usage. In the non-metropolitan district of Arun, the most dominant age group is the 65 and over group therefore demonstrating the ageing population of the Arun District. In England and the South East region of the country, the most dominant age group is age group. The current household estimate for Arun for mid 2009 was 69,474. The population estimate for Arun in 2009 was 149, Socio- Economic Classification according to District Ward (Appendix 2) Own account workers are self-employed positions in which the persons involved are engaged in any (nonprofessional) trade, personal service, semi-routine, routine or other occupation but have no employees other than family workers. Within the Orchard ward, 16.63% of residents are in semi-routine occupations, closely followed by 15.03% of residents who are in lower managerial and professional occupations % of residents in the Pevensey ward are in lower managerial and professional occupations closely followed by 15.85% who are in semi-routine occupations. Results clearly demonstrate that Bognor Regis has a large amount of residents in either semi-routine occupations or lower managerial and professional occupations. (Office for National Statistics, 2008) It is important to consider, for more up to date figures, the next Census takes place on 27th March 2011 and it is likely that results will be published in Sport England Market Segmentation A useful tool for looking at the market segments in England is the interactive Sport England Market Segmentation Tool. It has been designed specifically to look at the Sports Market and Sport England has developed nineteen sporting segments in order to help understand the nation's attitudes to sport as well as their motivations and barriers. Within the Hotham ward a significant proportion of residents have semi-routine occupations (employees regulated by an only slightly modified labour contract typified by a short term and direct exchange of money for effort). This group is closely followed by people in lower managerial and professional occupations. (Positions/ occupations in which there is an attenuated 'service relationship', and where those employed in these positions generally plan and supervise operations on behalf of the employer under the direction of senior managers). Among residents of the Marine Ward, 20.78% are in lower managerial and professional occupations. This is closely followed by residents in semi routine occupations, and small employers and own account workers. Small employers are those (other than higher or lower professionals) who employ others (and thus assume some degree of control over them) and carry out all or most of the entrepreneurial and managerial functions of the enterprise but employ less than 25 employees. 26 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

29 3.0 Needs and Demand The map below shows the most dominant market segments for the Arun District. (Sport England Market Segmentation, 2010) Arun District Dominant Markets Key Findings The map above clearly demonstrates that the most dominant market segment in Arun is Group 17 (Ralph and Phyllis). The profile for this market segment is described as comfortable retired couples and the main age of the group is 66 and over. People within this segment are generally less active than the average adult population, but their activity levels are higher than others in their age range. It is important to note that 26% of individuals within this segment are members of sports club, which is consistent with the national average. Furthermore, 12% have received instruction in sport and 11% have taken part in competition in the past year; 6% have volunteered in the past month. Motivation for this group The main motivations for individuals within this group are enjoyment, keeping fit and socialising. Improving performance, losing weight and training/taking part in a competition are much less relevant motivating factors for this particular segment. Barriers for this group 76% of this segment gives their main barrier to playing sport as health, injury or disability. This appears consistent with the age of the segment and propensity to have health problems. 40% of individuals from this segment have a long standing illness, disability or infirmity. Other barriers (including no opportunity and economic factors) are also a factor but to a much lesser extent than health. Other significant markets A significant market (as shown on the above map) is Group 6 (Tim). People from this group are described as sporty male professionals, buying a house and settling down with partner and they are mainly aged between 26 and 45. Individuals from this group take part in sport on a regular basis with almost two thirds taking part in sport at least once a week, compared with 40% of all adults. 27% of this segment does three 30-minute sessions of moderate intensity sport per week, compared to 15% of all adults and only 37% have done no sport in the past month. 66% of this segment would like to do more sport, compared to 52% of all adults. 27 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

30 3.0 Needs and Demand Another significant market in Bognor Regis is group 11 (Philip). Individuals from this group are described as being midlife professional, sporty males with older children and more time for themselves. They are generally aged between 46 and 55. This particular segment can be considered a sporty segment, with above average levels of sports participation. Half of this segment has done no sport in the past four weeks, compared with the average of 60% of all adults. 58% of individuals from this segment say they would like to do more sport, compared to 52% of all adults. (Sport England Market Segmentation, 2010) The Sport England Market Segmentation Tool provides an effective method for assessing the demographics of the Arun District in relation to sports participation. This tool (especially when supported by additional primary research in the form of the two resident surveys) can therefore be very useful when looking at the demand for a Watersports Centre in Bognor Regis according to the local population. 3.3 Local Residents In order to effectively assess the needs and demands of the local population, a survey was designed then distributed through two channels. Firstly the Arun Wavelength Survey provided a unique opportunity for a few key questions (regarding the potential development of a Watersports Centre in Bognor Regis) to be issued to a representative sample (662 people) of the Arun District population. This is important when analysing the results as it helps to assess whether different groups of people have different views towards the proposal. Using the Wavelength Survey as a means of public consultation also meant that a relatively high response rate could be assured. The second method used to assess local resident s needs and demands was a Online Community Survey (with the option for a paper copy for those without computer access). This was advertised in the local Arun Times and through various other links including Brighter Bognor and in total 45 local residents completed it. The online survey provided the same key questions as the Wavelength Survey, however it was supported by further questions in order to help provide a more detailed picture of what residents would or would not want from such a development. One of the key questions asked in both surveys was, how strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The development of a Watersports Centre would be of great value to Bognor Regis seafront'. Results demonstrated a highly positive response amongst the Wavelength Survey respondents with a total of 71.2% of people agreeing with the above statement including just over 33.3% of them who strongly agreed. 95.5% of respondents of the Online Community Survey agreed including a huge 84.4% who strongly agreed therefore demonstrating a clear desire amongst the local population for the development of such a facility on Bognor Regis seafront. Question 2 which was included in both surveys looked at the likeliness of local residents and/or their immediate family participating in the proposed water and/or sand based sports and activities at the centre. 39% of respondents from the Wavelength Survey (or some 58,000 people in the Arun District alone) said that they would be either very likely or quite likely to participate. Although this is less than half of respondents it is important to consider that Bognor Regis is home to an ageing population and according to Sport England, the Arun District is dominated by retired couples who have various barriers preventing them from participating in sport. (Sport England, Market Segmentation, 2010) 84.4% of residents who completed the Online Community Survey said that they would be very likely or quite likely to participate. Although it would not be unreasonable to assume many people who took the time to complete the online survey are enthusiastic towards the idea of such a development anyway, the high likeliness of participation is a good indicator of its potential usage amongst locals. According to both surveys, the most popular sports to include in the proposed Watersports Centre are: Sailing (62.2% of respondents in the Online Survey and 49% in the Wavelength Survey). Kayaking (53.3% in the Online Survey and 63.8% in the Wavelength Survey). It was highlighted in the Stakeholder workshop by Chichester Yacht Club that there is a real niche in sailing for those who simply want to have a go and the above results could be indicative of this. Jet skiing (which is already available on the seafront), scuba diving, windsurfing and surfing were also popular watersports amongst locals although it was interesting to see that windsurfing and jet skiing were much more popular in the Online Community Survey than in the Wavelength Survey. Fitness circuits were very popular in the Wavelength Survey with just over 49% or respondents saying that they would like to see this offered if the development were to go ahead. This would be fulfilled by the inclusion of a sand 28 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

31 3.0 Needs and Demand sports area adjacent to the Watersports Centre and could provide an opportunity to work with local gyms and fitness clubs. Regarding facilities, it was interesting to see a high demand for a seafront cafe despite there already being several eateries along the beach. A significant 69% of Wavelength respondents expressed a desire for such a facility to be included. The cafe was also very popular in the Online Survey. The idea of including a panoramic restaurant was also met with enthusiasm with 60% of Online Survey respondents and just under 48% of Wavelength respondents saying that they would like to see this included as part of the development. During consultation, it was stated that the panoramic restaurant would attract those who do not necessarily want to participate in watersports. Additionally, most people go out to eat in Chichester and this would be a way of making people come to Bognor Regis for a meal. Retail was also fairly popular although it has been emphasised throughout consultation that any retail should remain watersports specific. In both surveys there has been a high demand for training courses and children s activities therefore emphasising the need for the potential Watersports Centre to provide something for the whole family. When assessing the basis on which people and their immediate families would generally like to participate in the various activities, it is clear to see that the majority of respondents would look to participate through taking either taster sessions or short courses. It is also evident that a significant amount of respondents would want to use hire equipment therefore this would need to be provided at the Watersports Centre. 35.5% of respondents said that they would use their own equipment and it would be important for the proposed Centre to accommodate this group through providing easy access to the facilities and of course to the water. It is important to note that with regards to watersports equipment, 71.8% of respondents gave the option, up to date equipment available for hire a 5 out of 5 importance rating. Perhaps unsurprisingly, most respondents didn t see long term storage for their equipment as a very necessary inclusion for the proposed Centre, however 55% of respondents did give retail (where equipment can be purchased) a 4 or 5 out of 5 importance rating emphasising a desire for watersports retailers. As one would expect the online questionnaire results did highlight the seasonal nature of watersports participation. 80% of respondents claimed that they would participate in the summer whilst only 20% stated that they would still participate in the winter. It is important to note that expert level participants in sports like sailing, windsurfing and kitesurfing would still practice their sport in the winter as they would be much more concerned with conditions rather than seasons. In general Bognor Regis experiences stronger winds in the winter so it will be important to target more extreme and expert level participants during this period. Furthermore, in order to ensure the all year round operation of the proposed facility, it would be advisable to offer other services such as function, meeting and conferencing facilities. Additionally, indoor attractions like a Standing Wave would help give the Centre all year round appeal. It is also evident from the results that local people would most prefer to take part in the available activities on the weekends (71%) followed by in the evenings/after school (51%). It is recognised that events and competitions provide an opportunity to bring new visitors to the host town. An important element of the Online Survey was not only to look at those who would participate but also those who would be a spectator. Results demonstrated that of the respondents who completed the online questionnaire a higher proportion would prefer to watch than take part. Just fewer than 47% of respondents said that they would be very likely to watch with a further 35.6% saying it is quite likely that they would watch. It is important to appreciate that hosting events that bring in spectators can help result in secondary spending in other local facilities. In contrast 37.7% of respondents said that they would be likely to compete in hosted events which helps to demonstrate that there would be a demand amongst the local population for sporting events and competitions in Bognor Regis. When asked about membership, 57.8% of respondents claimed that they would be likely to join if an authorised membership scheme was introduced. Membership can provide an effective means of guaranteeing repeat customers to the facility. It does however come with some delicate issues. For example, if a membership scheme were to be introduced, it would be important to ensure that it does not become so exclusive that it deters one off visitors (including Butlin s visitors) who provide a significant target group for the Watersports Centre. Of the potential membership benefits listed on the online survey, discount on both training courses and equipment hire proved to be the most popular closely followed by access to an exclusive members club. Of the respondents that said they would be likely to join a membership scheme, 50% said that they would be most willing to pay between 101 and 150 whilst just over 32% said they would pay between 151 and 250. If a membership scheme were to be introduced, it would be likely to operate along the lines of a leisure centre with benefits like reduced rate hire fees. The Centre would be predominantly offering a pay as you go basis for watersports participation. 29 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

32 3.0 Needs and Demand In conclusion, the two surveys help to provide a clear insight into what the local population think of the proposal to develop a Watersports Centre in Bognor Regis. They also help to develop further conclusions regarding what the proposed Centre should offer in terms of facilities, sports and activities. It is clear from the results that a Watersports Centre would be a very welcome addition to the Bognor Regis seafront and it is evident that there would be good usage levels amongst the local population alone. Although the data collected is representative it must be noted that no 19 to 25 year olds completed the Online Survey and this would be a significant target group. Key watersports to include would be sailing and kayaking followed by scuba diving, windsurfing, jet skiing and potentially surfing through the development of a Standing Wave. Fitness circuits would also be a popular addition. With regards to facilities, the inclusion of a cafe would be essential accompanied by a watersports retailer and a panoramic restaurant which would provide an ideal area for spectators. Finally, providing taster sessions along with hire equipment for visitors will be essential. Full results for the Wavelength Survey are available in Appendix 3 and results for the Online Community Survey are available in Appendix Watersports Enthusiasts and Visitors to Bognor Regis In addition to the Arun Wavelength Survey and the Online Community Survey, two additional face to face questionnaires were carried out. One was aimed at targeting watersports enthusiasts and the second was targeting visitors to Bognor Regis. 129 questionnaires were answered in total. 90 of these were by watersports enthusiasts and 39 were completed by visitors to Bognor Regis. A number of areas along the South-East coast were visited in order to effectively survey a sample of watersports enthusiasts. The distribution of these respondents can be seen in the pie chart (top right). Key Findings from the Watersports Enthusiast and Visitor Survey 65% of watersports enthusiasts stated that they would use the Bognor Regis Watersports Centre if it met their requirements. Similarly just under 65% of visitors said that they would participate in watersports whilst visiting Bognor Regis. 64% of watersports enthusiasts and 60% of visitors had children. These respondents stated that they would also like their children to be involved in watersport participation either as a hobby or whilst on holiday. This emphasises the need for the Watersports Centre to offer something for the whole family. 33% of the watersports enthusiasts surveyed were students and 55% of visitors surveyed were aged between 21 and 40. This shows that Bognor Regis still attracts a relatively young demographic to the town and new facilities could help to increase visitor numbers within this age group. The top 5 watersports that enthusiasts participate in were sailing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, surfing and jet skiing, and the top 5 that visitors would consider participating in were jet skiing, body boarding, surfing, kitesurfing and sailing. These watersports (especially sailing) were all very popular in both the Wavelength and Online Community Surveys. 54% of enthusiasts would consider themselves or their children participating in shore sports and 44% of visitors said that sand sports would increase their chance of returning to the beach. This shows that the inclusion of a sand sports area hosting volleyball, beach football or beach rugby could prove beneficial to the success of the Watersports Centre and it would attract those that aren t necessarily keen on watersports. According to watersports enthusiasts, the most important facilities to be included in the Watersports Centre would be changing/shower facilities, a restaurant/cafe, a boat yard/car park, and a retail area for equipment purchase. The most important facilities for visitors are equipment hire, other entertainment in the 30 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

33 3.0 Needs and Demand area and accommodation. There was a high demand for a restaurant and cafe in the Arun Wavelength Survey and the Community Online Survey. There was also a high demand amongst local residents for training courses. 83% of enthusiasts have completed a watersports training course and 44% of visitors said they would be interested in completing a training course whilst 56% said they would just prefer to have a go. This is supported by the high demand for have a go and taster sessions amongst local residents. Unsurprisingly, 73% of enthusiasts have purchased their own equipment and 27% hire their equipment. Participation levels amongst watersports enthusiasts were highest between April and August at 100%. Participation between September & November was 82% and participation between December & March was down to 30%. This represents the seasonal nature of watersports participation but also shows that a significant amount of watersports enthusiasts participate all year round. 40% of enthusiasts would pay up to 50 for participation whilst 21% would pay over 200. Visitors to Bognor Regis would be most willing to pay for watersport participation. Just under 40% of the visitors stayed for 2-4 days and similarly the same percentage stay for 1 week. Conclusion Results from the Watersports Enthusiast Survey and the Bognor Regis Visitor Survey demonstrate a demand for a Watersports Centre in Bognor Regis. The data collected from the two surveys is highly effective when combined with the information gathered from the two resident surveys (in section 3.3) as some clear patterns have emerged. Results have highlighted the importance of including taster sessions and hire equipment for visitors to the town. There is also a high demand (in the four surveys) for sailing which is interesting due to the high number of local clubs in the area. With regards to facilities, respondents from the visitor questionnaire stated that a sanded area, improved children s attractions and improved restaurants and cafes would increase the chance of visitors returning to the Bognor Regis seafront in the future. 3.5 Butlins Skyline Ltd. Butlins Skyline Ltd were enthusiastic participants in the consultation process and stated their intention to continue to work closely with Arun DC to further Bognor Regis regeneration, and to form closer links with the town in general. They fully understand that Bognor Regis is in need of something iconic in order to support the regeneration process, attract new visitors, as well as give the local residents a facility to be proud of. Total visitors numbers in the past 2 years (excluding day visits) 1.2m Total adults: 837,000 Total kids: 362,000 Age of lead booker: % % % % % 70+ 2% Lead Booker During discussions with the resort management at Butlins Skyline Ltd, a few key issues were highlighted: Firstly, it is imperative that the proposed Watersports Centre is able to stand alone and more importantly engage with the sea. It is important to consider that being near the sea is one of the top five reasons why people visit Butlin s in Bognor Regis and therefore the opportunities associated with the sea should be taken full advantage of. The Watersports Centre should look to target young families and offer things like canoeing and kayaking. In addition, a harbour area would be beneficial to provide a calm, sheltered area for learning. It is evident that Butlin s customers provide a unique opportunity for the Watersports Centre with a customer base almost on the doorstep. Butlin s could provide vital links for passes to the Watersports Centre as a way of encouraging their customers to use the facilities. They would also promote have a go courses as part of the Butlin s offer. Butlin s could look to provide the catering facilities within the Watersports Centre as this would be fairly easy and economical for them to set up due to the fact that they already have existing food and beverage facilities on their site. They could therefore see themselves as business partners operating the restaurant and/or cafe. The facility must operate for 12 months of the year. There is an ideal opportunity for conferencing, team building and school trips during quieter periods when watersports participation is generally lower. 31 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

34 3.0 Needs and Demand They already have links with existing watersports providers so they can organise sports like sailing for their guests which demonstrates a clear demand for watersports amongst Butlin s customers. If the proposed Watersports Centre was built on the Gloucester Road car park it would provide easy access and additionally, there would be no issues to resolve regarding parking due to the close proximity of the site. The Watersports Centre needs to be affordable and accessible to all ages and abilities and the entry price point needs to be sensible. 93% of Butlin s customers come from socioeconomic group C1 or below and although the demographic is slowly shifting higher it will be important to consider the fact that, Bognor Regis is home to an aging and relatively deprived population meaning sensible pricing will be crucial. (The Guardian, 2009) The proposed Centre will need to be economical and it will be important to take note of the incremental costs. With regards to the land, a long term peppercorn lease arrangement would be beneficial as Butlins Skyline Ltd is not looking to sell their part of the land. From the above discussions it is evident that Butlin s visitors provide a unique opportunity and significant target market for the proposed Watersports Centre. Sensible pricing and providing activities for the whole family would help the Watersports Centre to appeal to a wider market. The year round operation of the facility is vital and it will be important to ensure the proposed Centre does not become victim to the seasonal nature of British seaside towns. The potential to provide conferencing and meeting facilities as well as an indoor learning environment for school trips could help to enhance the facility s all year round appeal. Effective marketing and management of activities will be fundamental to the success of the potential Watersports Centre. 3.6 Local Watersports Clubs Consultation of existing watersports clubs in the local area was a key aspect of the research in order to effectively assess the demand for a Watersports Centre in Bognor Regis. Local clubs were given the opportunity to take part in the research firstly through the Stakeholder workshop where the following clubs were invited: Arun Yacht Club Bognor Jetski and Boat Launch Bognor Regis Yacht Club Bracklesham Boardriders Chichester Sub Aqua Chichester Yacht Club Dell Quay Sailing Club Felpham Sailing Club Hayling Island Sailing Club Mulberry Divers (Selsey) Pagham Yacht Club Shore Surf Club (East Wittering) West Wittering Windsurf Club Wittering Divers Only a small proportion were able to attend, however, contributions from Chichester Yacht club, Felpham Sailing Club and the Chichester Sub Aqua club helped to provide a valuable input with regards to how the proposals for such a development were perceived amongst local clubs, and in turn what such a development should include in order to improve its offer for local residents and visitors to the town. Further consultation with local clubs was carried out through a series of one to one interviews. These included: Bognor Jetski and Boat Launch (BJL) Bognor Regis Yacht Club (BRYC) Bracklesham Boardriders (BBR) Felpham Sailing Club (FSC) Pagham Yacht Club meeting (PYC) West Wittering Windsurf Club (WWWC) Key Findings Discussions with the above clubs provided mixed responses to a variety of key questions although it was predominantly recognised that Bognor Regis is in need of something to regenerate the town and it could therefore be beneficial to include a Watersports Centre though it was stated that, this must not negatively impact the local sailing clubs. It would not be unreasonable to say the potential Watersports Centre is naturally seen as a threat to local sailing clubs especially as it would be looking to offer RYA approved sailing courses (which are already available at local clubs). However the times when these courses are available are restricted and often dependent on volunteers from the clubs. With the Watersports Centre potentially offering courses commercially, along with instructor courses, the capacity of the area would be increased and in fact demand for membership of the local sailing clubs could grow. Despite the fact that there are several sailing clubs in the local area is it important to consider the high demand for sailing demonstrated in the results from both the Wavelength and Online Community Survey. This could suggest that there is a demand for taster sessions and therefore a market exists within the sport for those who simply wish to have a go. During consultation, it was stated that there is a significant market for those who 32 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

35 3.0 Needs and Demand simply want to have a one of go at something and this could effectively compliment the facilities being offered at the local sailing clubs. It was stated by a representative from FSC that they are not concerned with the visitor market but slightly concerned with the possible lack of membership amongst the local community as a result of the developments in Bognor Regis. BRYC also emphasised the fact that it will be highly important for the proposed Watersports Centre to work in conjunction with the local sailing clubs in order to improve the towns sporting offer. For example, if a sheltered teaching area is successfully created then local clubs could potentially use this along with the neighbouring facilities. The Watersports Centre could also look to work with local sailing clubs through encouraging visitors of the Centre to join a local club perhaps through the RYA onboard scheme. The Watersports Centre would not be standalone in the respect that it could work alongside clubs like BRYC and FSC which would help to promote the seafront as a whole, as a centre for watersports. In contrast, BBR, BJL and WWWC all expressed a real interest in being part of the proposed watersport centre development. The option to move the Jet Ski launch in house was suggested and both BBR and WWWC expressed a potential interest in running a school (including windsurfing and Kitesurfing) from within the Watersports Centre. This could be a beneficial option due to the fact that all 3 organisations are local and therefore have relevant knowledge on the local coastline and local and visitor demand. Discussions with local clubs have helped to provide valuable information on the seasonal nature of watersports participation. Both FSC and BRYC have stated that the main season for sailing is from March/April to October especially with regards to beginners taking up the sport as any other time the water and weather are too cold. At FSC sailing is available for 9 months of the year with their winter series running through to Boxing Day. Some clubs like the Chichester Yacht Club are different, as they are able to sail for 12 months of the year due to the fact that they have a sheltered harbour area. This shows that a sheltered area could potentially have a similar effect on participation in Bognor Regis. Smaller clubs also tend to be seasonal as they need to take a break due to the fact that most of their staff members are voluntary; whilst clubs like Hayling Island Sailing Club have paid staff therefore they can afford to stay open all year round. The seasonal nature of watersports participation is similar for other clubs offering different sports. Like the local sailing clubs, March to October is the main season for WWWC but it is also very weather dependent. Similarly BBR have more beginners between April and September so their teaching season tends to be within that time period. The current jet ski launch facility in Bognor Regis is very seasonal due to a combination of the weather (like the above clubs) and because at the end of October the launch ramp is blocked until April 1st. As a result the main season is from April to September. It is important to consider that the seasons also depend on conditions and the level of the user. For example, more competent participants often prefer the winter season when conditions are generally more extreme with higher winds and bigger waves. Expert level kitesurfers for example, will participate all year round as long as the wind conditions are good. A useful approach to looking at seasons of participation is to differentiate between beginners, intermediates and expert level participants. Core Sports Seasons Sailing, Kayaking, Windsurfing, Kite Surfing, Jet Skiing May to September (Inclusive) Beginners + anyone September to November Intermediates + Experts December to March Experts March to May Intermediates + Experts Discussions with local clubs have helped to prioritise the most important facilities and services to include within the proposed Watersports Centre development. These can be seen in order of preference below: 1. Changing/ showers 2. Training courses 3. Classroom/ indoor learning environment 4. Restaurant/ cafe 5. Convenient car parking and access 33 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

36 3.0 Needs and Demand Watersports Clubs/Schools on the South Coast The maps below indicate the various watersports clubs or schools along the south coast in relation to the proposed Bognor Regis Watersports Centre (indicated by the yellow place mark). Watersports along the South Coast Cornwall taking advantage of its natural surfing assets Watersports in West Sussex and Hampshire (Photos taken from Google Earth) 34 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

37 3.0 Needs and Demand 3.7 Local Schools, Colleges and the University When looking at the needs and demand for the proposed Watersports Centre it is important to consider the potential usage amongst local schools, colleges and of course the University of Chichester. In Bognor Regis and the surrounding area there are 4 main secondary schools including The Regis School, Felpham Community College, Westergate Community School and St Philip Howard Catholic School in Barnham. The town is also in relatively close proximity to Chichester where there is the Chichester High School for Boys, the Chichester High School for Girls, Bishop Luffa and the Chichester College. An online survey was created targeting local schools and colleges in order to assess their potential usage of the proposed Watersports Centre and their needs and demands with regards to what they would want the facility to offer. Over 60 local schools and colleges were invited to complete the survey however, unfortunately there have only been 8 responses from 7 schools/colleges. The schools/colleges who did respond however included the main secondary schools, The Regis School, Felpham Community College, Westergate Community School and the Chichester College. Results to the online schools and colleges questionnaire were very positive. Much like the two residents surveys, the first question asked was, how strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The development of a Watersports Centre would be of great value to Bognor Regis seafront'. 62.5% strongly agreed and 37.5% agreed with not one respondent disagreeing with the above statement. 75% of respondents then went on to state that watersports participation is currently part of their curricula and 62.5% of respondents said that shore based activity is part of their curricula and trips include visits to the South Downs and West Wittering Beach to study things like tidal movement, coastal erosion and natural habitats. This is important as it demonstrates that usage of the proposed Centre could vary and not purely be based on watersports participation. Of the 8 respondents 62.5% said that they would be either quite likely or very likely to use the facilities offered at the proposed Watersports Centre showing that schools and colleges should be a target for the Bognor Regis Watersports Centre. 25% said that they were currently unsure as to whether they would use such a facility. According to the schools and colleges survey, the most important sports to include are sailing and kayaking which is consistent with the results from the two residents surveys. Windsurfing, surfing and rowing were also popular. It is important to note that windsurfing and surfing have been consistently popular in all 5 surveys (Wavelength Survey, Online Community Survey, Watersports Enthusiasts Survey, Bognor Regis Visitor Survey and the Local Schools and Colleges Survey). With regards to facilities and services offered at the Watersports Centre, training courses were most popular in the form of short courses and taster days. This was followed by a high demand for a cafe (which was very popular in the residents survey) and organised events. 50% of respondents also expressed the importance of including an indoor learning environment. 62.5% of respondents said that individuals from their school/college would be most likely to participate during term time and during the day for classes like Physical Education. Results also showed that the majority of respondents would not wish for their school or college to participate during the winter. This is not surprising and it would be unlikely that the Watersports Centre would offer training to schools during this time as the cold water and more extreme weather conditions could be hazardous and put beginners off. With regards to regularity of potential usage, results were quite diverse with 50% of respondents stating they would use the facility on a weekly basis and 50% stating that the facility would be used for one off school trips or activity days. Much like the results in the residents survey, with regards to equipment, it would be most important to include up to date equipment to hire and less important to include long term storage facilities for schools /colleges own equipment. Although the response rate was relatively low, the above results and findings are valuable to the research for a variety of reasons. Firstly, respondents included the main schools/colleges in close proximity to the proposed Watersports Centre. The results were also very consistent with findings from the other surveys. For example findings from all 5 of the surveys show a high demand for short courses and taster sessions. They also demonstrate the popularity of sailing, kayaking and windsurfing. With regards to facilities results show a clear demand for a cafe/restaurant area. 35 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

38 3.0 Needs and Demand The University of Chichester Bognor Regis has a campus offshoot from the University of Chichester and as discussed in the Strategic Context section of the report, the University is investing in the campus demonstrating its commitment to Bognor Regis. According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency, the university has just over 5000 students spread across the Chichester and Bognor Regis campuses. This is a significant target market for the Watersports Centre especially due to the fact that there are currently no sporting facilities on the Bognor Regis campus. The proposed Gloucester Road site for the development is just a five minute walk from the Bognor Regis campus and in addition, there is an intercampus bus that brings students from the Chichester campus to Bognor Regis meaning the Centre could appeal to students on both campuses. The Chichester campus also boasts a renowned sports department and the Adventure Education department. Discussions with various senior lecturers of the Adventure Education Course have helped to assess the potential usage of the Watersports Centre amongst a key target group within the University. During discussions it was stated that the development is very much needed in Bognor Regis and it would provide something for students on the Bognor Regis campus to do as they do not have any sporting facilities on campus. The following key points were highlighted: Course usage would only be 1.5 days a week for a 3 month period however opportunities should be there for students to use it independently. The course currently includes kayaking, canoeing, climbing and surfing however lots of students on the Adventure Education course take part in other sports. At the Watersports Centre they would like to see canoeing and kayaking, stand up paddle boarding and sailing. It was also stated that it would also be good to see new and different activities such as Yoga on stand up paddle boards in the summer and Dragon boating which is becoming popular. Short Courses, using their own equipment would be the most likely basis for participation. However some students would do certified training courses. Students would use the facility mid week during the day, after classes/during the evening, on weekends, and this would most likely be during the spring and autumn as most students go home during the summer. Students could also run the taster days. For example, there are approximately 20 BCU level 1 coaches from the University each year seeking people to teach. They need people for live bait training so the Centre could offer free taster sessions for them to do this. It would benefit the students and be a good way to market and get people involved with the proposed Watersports Centre. The most important facilities to include would be changing/shower facilities, an indoor learning environment and a restaurant/cafe area. Long term equipment store would be most advantageous to the Adventure Education course as they have their own equipment but getting it to the water can be a problem. The University could use the facility for away days or strategic meetings. It is important to note that kayaking and surfing are consistent with results from the other surveys. Discussions with the Sports Development Manager for the University of Chichester Students Union helped to confirm a need for such facilities in Bognor Regis in relation to the students of the University. Again, the fact that there are no sporting facilities on the Bognor Regis campus is seen as a big issue as students on the Bognor Regis campus have to go to Chichester for sports facilities yet there are none relating to water or sand activity. The following key points were highlighted: There is a strong RYA association with University of Chichester students having gone on to represent their country. It is anticipated that there will be a lot of interest in sand based sports such as football, rugby, volleyball and fitness circuits and there would be opportunities for club development in this area. In the 2009/10 academic year an Adventure Sports Club has been launched, bringing together the paddling, surfing and climbing clubs they had previously. They currently have no home base which the Watersports Centre could provide. The potential development of a Watersports Centre is seen as a positive addition to Bognor Regis and a benefit to students and the university alike. The above discussions and key points show clear potential usage and demand with regards to students and courses within the university. Other courses including those that are not sports related could also have an interest in using the Watersports Centre facility and this would need to be researched further. For example, the applied management module taught at the University of Wales Institute Cardiff includes various outdoor activities (some of which are water based) to test students leadership and team work abilities. Finally, it is important to note that students from the Adventure Education course provide a ready source of instructors for the Centre and the Watersports Centre can in turn offer job or placement opportunities for students. 36 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

39 3.0 Needs and Demand 3.8 Business Opportunities - Catering and Retail According to Bognor Regis is home to 34 restaurants, 27 pubs, 13 cafes and some 250 retail outlets. Wining and Dining on the Seafront Between Gloucester Road and the Norfolk Hotel the Beach Restaurant situated on the Esplanade and across the road from the sea,the Prom and a Thai both on the same side of the road are the only restaurants on the Seafront. The Beach specialises in good quality fish and chips and offers for senior citizens, whilst The Prom is a combined pizza restaurant, café, sports and real ale bar. In addition there is a Brewers Fayre with garden seating, a Casino and a sea facing restaurant at The Royal Norfolk Hotel. The other catering outlets along this stretch of the seafront comprise a number of huts, some with limited deck seating on the beach itself and serving a combination of coffee, crepes, milkshakes, candy floss, ice-cream and hot and cold snacks. Adjacent to the pier is a specialist fresh fish and shellfish traditional style wooden café. All of these are seasonal business and closed during the winter. The remaining restaurants and cafes in the area are a combination of fast food chains, ethnic cuisine and small independents. For quality dining with sea views residents and visitors only have three choices available, none of which are in Bognor Regis itself:,the Pagham Beach Café, the Thomas Heatherwick designed East Beach Café in Littlehampton and The Lobster Pot in Felpham which has become increasingly popular and quite recently began opening in the evening. Shopping on the Seafront Along the same area of the Esplanade there are only a couple of shops selling typical seaside rock and bucket and spade type merchandise. In the town itself the only places to buy swimwear are chain stores like Peacocks and one or two fashion independents and there is no specialist watersports retail outlet at all. In most other Centres used in the benchmark case studies section 4.0, retail is a key element of the offer, with Dover Sea Sports Centre the exception and in fact sited as a missing element of that Centre s offer. 37 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

40 4.0 Benchmark Case Studies

41 4.0 Benchmark Case Studies 4.1 Introduction An important part of the research was to look at benchmark examples of existing watersports centres in order to fully understand how they operate and in turn what lessons could be learnt from the development of these respective facilities. Exploring the benchmark set by these examples and appreciating the lessons learned can help to form critical understanding of how to effectively develop and operate a Watersports Centre in Bognor Regis. council, Dover district council, the community fund and a number of additional grants. The different operators working within the Sea Sports Centre are all financially and operationally independent. To confirm, these include, Dover Watersports, Dover Rowing Club (a separate club), Dover Lifeguards and Vista Leisure (running the restaurant and bar). The sports offered within the facility include, sailing, windsurfing, power boating, kayaking (through hire) and rowing (although this is through the Rowing club). It was decided that the study would focus on the Dover Sea Sports Centre, the Boscombe Overstrand Building (near the artificial reef in Bournemouth) and the Mountbatton Watersports and Activities Centre in Plymouth. These examples were selected as they have all been developed as part of wider regeneration projects and offer multiple watersports at all levels. This would then be supported by further desktop research on other facilities including the Fistral Surf Centre in Newquay, Hayling Island Sailing Club and the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy which focus on single watersports. 4.2 Dover Sea Sports Centre The Dover Sea Sports Centre was officially opened in June 2010, providing a new location for Dover Watersports, the Dover Rowing club and the Dover Lifeguards, who have all been situated along the same stretch of beach for a number of years. The facility is owned by the Dover Sea Sports Centre development trust (DSSCDT) but it will soon be taken over by Vista Leisure, a Social Enterprise with charitable status that manages leisure facilities and services within East Kent. Vista Leisure is currently running the restaurant/bar area, (although not a long term arrangement) which had originally been franchised to another operator. It is important to note that Dover Watersports (a charity and registered Community Amateur Sports Club) is the organisation responsible for offering watersports at the Centre and they are looking to merge with Vista Leisure pending the takeover. The Dover Harbour Board owns the land on which the centre is built and the DSSCDT have a long term peppercorn lease. The capital cost for the centre was 2.5 million funded by the ARA, Sport England ( 1.1 million) and the Dover Harbour Board. Other funders included Kent county (Dover sea sports centre, 2010) The facilities available at the Dover Sea Sports Centre can be seen on the Bench Marking Facilities Matrix on page Strengths and Weaknesses The Dover Sea Sports Centre has a variety of strengths and weaknesses that can provide valuable lessons when developing a Watersports Centre in Bognor Regis. Strengths Aesthetically pleasing, cool looking building. DDA compliant facility. 39 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

42 4.0 Benchmark Case Studies A multi use space for restaurant overflow, functions and conferences. NGB approved courses. Location is ideal for teaching within a protected area of the harbour. Weaknesses Management structure did not meet requirements with new arrangements planned. Initial catering franchise did not deliver the required level of service Design and building accommodation is unsatisfactory from a number of perspectives: 1. Access to building and watersports areas, flow and control, signage, do not work operationally. It is therefore difficult to manage general usage. 2. Spatial design issues including a large unused foyer area, very small offices, and small classroom area. 3. Hazardous floor surface in storage area. 4. Restaurant toilets and wet changing in same area therefore the floor is often wet and as a result hazardous to dry users of the facility. 5. No dry store for wetsuits. 6. No sun on the sea side balcony due to the building orientation. 7. Wrap around walkway leading to storage not wide enough for dinghies in one section due to pillar structure supporting balcony. Inadequate external directional signage. commercial operators. There is a franchised local surf shop and surf school ( Sorted ) as well as an additional surf school. Both are commercial surf schools and participation has increased by 44% across the both of them despite the current perceived operational failures of the reef. The Overstrand building also includes the Urban Reef restaurant and cafe owned by Mark Cribb of the Urban Beach hotel. Other facilities include the RNLI and Voluntary Beach Lifeguard Station, a beach office and events office, public showers, toilets and changing facilities, as well as Hemmingway designed beach pods. The facility is managed and coordinated by the Council s Coastal, Seafront Operations, department. Sport England funded a 3-year post within this department to help develop watersports participation. Capital funding for the regeneration developments including both the Overstrand building and the reef came from a combination of Section 106 money and direct developer contribution via a development of sea view flats built just behind the Overstrand building. The sports available within the facility are, surfing, Kitesurfing, stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, surf life saving, open water swimming, beach volleyball, beach rugby, beach football and beach golf. The Dover Sea Sports Centre example confirms the need for: Effective management arrangements. A clear understanding of objectives to ensure that any independent operators or franchisees within the facility work towards common standards and goals. A detailed design and operational brief signed off by the eventual users of the facilities. 4.3 The Boscombe Overstrand Building Watersports activities are fragmented in Boscombe and Bournemouth with a number of clubs located along the coast. The main building known as the Overstrand building is 120 years old; however, a conversion was completed just 2 years ago as part of Bournemouth Borough Council s Boscombe Spa Village Regeneration Scheme. This particular scheme also included the development of the renowned artificial surf reef which is situated out to sea in front of the Overstrand building. The Overstrand building is owned by Bournemouth Borough Council and space is leased out to various (The Surf Reef, 2011) 40 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

43 4.0 Benchmark Case Studies The Overstrand Building pre and post development. The facilities available at the Boscombe Overstrand building can be seen on the Benchmarking Facilities Matrix on page Strengths and Weaknesses Strengths The Boscombe Spa Village Regeneration Scheme has directly resulted in an additional c. 48 million of private sector investment including Barratt Homes flagship Honeycombe Beach residential complex. In March 2009, a press release stated that 91 new leisure-related jobs had been created as a result of the redevelopments, visitor numbers had increased by 32% and anti-social behaviour reduced by 40%. The regeneration scheme also resulted in a 25% uplift in local house prices. There has been a significant increase in beach and water sports activities in 2009 with two surf schools, hosting of national championship finals for beach volleyball, tchoukball and European inshore rescue boat championships. An international PR value of 10 million equivalent advertising costs has been achieved. Independent visitor surveys reveal satisfaction with facilities up from 56% to 74% since Satisfaction with food and drink offer is up from 72% to 85% over the same period. Satisfaction with beach cleanliness is now at a record 96%. A year round tourism offer bringing confidence to the local community. Regeneration of the Overstrand building helps to maintain a unique architectural feel for the town. (Boscombe Spa Village Regeneration Scheme, 2010) 4.4 Mountbatten Watersports and Activities Centre, Plymouth The Mountbatten Centre (company) owns the building assets while Mounbatten Park Ltd is set up as a not for profit operating company for the facilities, comprising: Hotel and conference facilities Watersports facilities Outdoor education facilities including climbing and abseiling It was set up 12 years ago as a merging of three activity centres and as such remains fragmented to a degree. It was grant aided by ERDF, Sport England and Plymouth City Council and was a facilitator for club use. Some 5 years ago management was re-organised from a Council operated facility to a University led operation, managed by Lesley Coulton as its Chief Executive. It now promotes its own programme of activities under license from a number of watersports governing bodies (RYA, ARA, BCU) and supports other clubs around the bay. The centre now operates at a surplus after receiving revenue subsidy from Plymouth City Council and the University (in the order of 80,000). It has a large education programme (schools and the University (teaching and social)). The high education and teaching of vulnerable people requires the Centre to be Ofsted registered and inspected. It operates a similar range of activities as the other benchmark facilities. (Mountbatten Centre, 2008) Weaknesses Slow sale on beach pods due to very high price. Failure of the 3 million reef to deliver a consistent, good surfing wave. Delivery of waterports fragmented along the seafront. No classroom in the Overstand building. The Boscombe regeneration scheme could be examined in more depth as a benchmark for seafront development in Bognor Regis involving public and private partnership. Much like central Boscombe, Bognor Regis is home to a relatively deprived population (Bognor Regis Seafront Strategy, 2009) where seafront development could enhance its economic potential. View from the conference room. The facilities available at the Mountbatten Watersports and Activities Centre can be seen on the Benchmarking Facilities Matrix on page Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

44 4.0 Benchmark Case Studies Strengths and weaknesses Strengths Operational and revenue support from the University and the City Council. Trades at an operational surplus. All the year round activities due to hotel and conference facilities - conference hall for 160 which sub divides. Strong educational establishment programmes. Operates with 8 core activities (where these can generate a good income). Clear aims and objectives including financial viability, diversity of programme, growth. Wet and dry classrooms. Weaknesses Fragmented facilities around the bay Revenue difficulties in early years Hayling Island Sailing Club (HISC) was awarded a lottery grant in recognition of becoming the RYA's Centre of Excellence on the South Coast, and as a result the redevelopment of the facilities was completed early in (HISC, 2011) Although it is officially a sailing club it is also home to windsurfers and kite surfers alike and it is a popular facility due to its ideal location between the sea and a sheltered harbour area which lends itself to learning. HISC hosts various racing days throughout the year which is a way of bringing visitors to the area. The club facilities include conference facilities for up to 150 people, meeting facilities for up to 50 people, a restaurant and bar, balcony views of race area, a dedicated training room, a dinghy hire centre and changing facilities. It does tend to attract more experienced sailors due to the tendency for currents next to the club being very strong and access to the sea not being easy. It is also one of the more expensive clubs in the area to join. 4.5 Additional Benchmarking Examples As stated at the beginning of section 4, there are various other benchmark facilities that provide guidance and standards for a Watersports Centre in Bognor Regis. The Fistral Surf Centre in Newquay is set in a prime location on the famous Fistral beach and its success is largely accredited to the great surfing conditions on that section of coast. Architecturally, the building is very cool looking and is well suited to its environment. The overall facility consists of various different commercial operators including several retail outlets, a BSA approved surf school, a hire centre, the Fistral Blu panoramic restaurant and changing and shower facilities. The centre brings lots of visitors to the area by hosting major surf competitions like the Rip Curl Boardmasters, the UK Pro Surf Tour and the BUSA championships. Although it is important to appreciate that Bognor Regis cannot offer surfing due to its poor conditions and lack of waves suitable for surfing, the Fistral Surf Centre provides a good example of how to maximise beach usage and exploit its coastal assets. In fact the focus of the whole town has been influenced by the growing surf scene. (HISC 2010) Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) is a proud venue of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. This will undoubtedly result in an influx of visitors to the local area which will have positive effect on the local economy. The Academy boasts an excellent sailing environment with direct access to the sailing of Portland Harbour and Weymouth Bay. Facilities include: Fully equipped lecture rooms. Boasts numerous function rooms for varying events such as weddings, balls and proms, workshops, meetings and interviews and formal dinner parties. Boat hoist and long term storage. Onshore facilities such as pressure washing and electricity. Changing facilities. Social facilities such as a bar. Windsurfing and sailing school. Osprey Quay therapies which offer treatments for rehabilitation such as physiotherapy. Campsite facilities. (Fistral Beach, 2010) (Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, 2010) 42 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

45 4.0 Benchmark Case Studies Portsmouth Watersports Centre is managed by Parkwood Community Leisure, a subsidiary of Parkwood Leisure Ltd. Parkwood Leisure specialises in the development and operation of leisure facilities on behalf of local authority and non-local authority clients. The Company s management experience ranges from 50m pools to theatres, ice rinks and stand-alone catering facilities. At Portsmouth Watersports Centre RYA sailing and powerboating courses are run for all ages and abilities, as well as kayaking, windsurfing, navigation and seamanship courses, events and teambuilding activities. There is also a watersports club with adult, family and child memberships available. The Centre offers an outstanding and unique outdoor education programme for schools and colleges and has two fully staffed and equipped departments specialising in outdoor activities and environmental studies fieldwork. It has a focus on children s courses run throughout the year with a special school holiday programme Facilities include: Boats, equipment and clothing for all activities. Classrooms. Tea and coffee making facilities. Vending facilities. Lounge Area. Changing Rooms. Fully equipped classrooms. 13m climbing tower. Outside seating and picnic area. Outstanding views over Langstone Harbour. Free parking. (Portsmouth Watersports Centre, 2010) Examples of school activities. Although it would be unrealistic to expect the Bognor Regis Watersports Centre to be built in time for the 2012 Games, it could be developed as part of the Olympic Legacy Programme being promoted in West Sussex (West Sussex Ahead of the Game Plan). This might facilitate involvement with initiatives and potential capital and revenue funding awards from Sport England, based on targets to increase participation in the local area and across the County. 43 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

46 4.0 Benchmark Case Studies Chichester Watersports Centre based at Westhamptnett, Chichester offers various sports and activities including windsurfing, wakeboarding, waterskiing, SBDA boat drivers award testing, kayak and topper hire as well banana rides. Facilities include: Watersports specific retail with try before you buy facility on most equipment. Sauna. Changing and showers. Terrace bar/grill with free wireless internet access. (Outdoor cover for terrace available) Facilities available for functions, corporate or other events. Hire Centre. In terms of facilities, the Cobnor Activities Centre offers: Camping facilities including marquees and bell tents. Residential log cabins including showers, toilets, catering facilities and disabled access. Dedicated education facilities. Meeting rooms. IT facilities. Top of the range equipment the all activities offered including sailing and canoeing. The Chichester Watersports Centre also offers launch facilities for people with their own equipment and in addition, it promotes live bands and DJ s in both floodlit and daylight competitions helping to attract new visitors to the facility. (Cobnor Activities Centre, 2011) Facilities of benchmark examples available on Benchmark Facilities Matrix on page 45. (Chichester Watersports Centre, 2011) Cobnor Activities Centre near Chichester is teaches specialist RYA courses in sailing and power boating as well as BCU canoeing and kayaking course. The Centre specialises in giving young people the opportunity to participate in adventure activities both on the land and in the water. Around 13,000 sessions involving young people from over 60 schools, youth groups and individuals are carried out at Cobnor Activities Centre every year, and around 400 of these individuals are disabled or disadvantaged. 44 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

47 4.0 Benchmark Case Studies Benchmark Facilities Matrix Accommodation Changing Classroom Competitions Conference Convienient Hire Restaurant Training Watersports Other Showers Car Parking Centre Cafe Courses Retailers Facilities /Access Name of Centre/Facility Boscombe Events Office, Overstrand Lifeguard Building No Yes No Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Office Dover Sea Sports Centre No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes No Fistral Surf Centre Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Bar Hayling Island Sailing club Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Bar Mount-batten Long term Watersports Storage and Activities Centre Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Portsmouth Watersports Watersports Centre No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Vending Yes No Club for all ages Weymouth and Portland Treatement National Sailing facilities, power Academy Yes (Campervaning) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No washing Yellow Wave No Yes No Yes No No N/A Yes Yes No Climbing wall 45 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

48 5.0 Site Analysis

49 5.0 Site Analysis 5.1 Introduction The site being proposed for the Watersports Centre is a public car park on Gloucester Road, used primarily by day visitors to Butlins Skyline Ltd. It is important to note that the development is not constrained to this location however; the site is ideal for a variety of reasons including its position on the seafront, and due to the fact that it is jointly owned by Butlin s and Arun District Council. When analysing the proposed site, the research has looked at both its suitability with regards to potential developments on the land and its fittingness with regards to what can be done on the seafront in order to enhance the water and sand sports offer in Bognor Regis. It is the case that there is no other obviously available site along the Bognor Regis seafront, especially with such immediacy of access to the sea. PROPOSED SITE PROPOSED SITE (Ordnance Survey, 2010) 47 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

50 5.0 Site Analysis 5.2 The Proposed Site Land Space Agreement of land for building a Watersports Centre. There is good access to the sea via the existing ramp. The site has a history of being used for watersports activity and has highlighted during consultation it needs something to bring it together. It is easy to access from Gloucester Road. It is a large area of land with an existing car park that would help to serve the Watersports Centre facility. Planning permission was approved in the past for residential developments. The site is next to Butlin s. The location is therefore convenient for Butlin s and its customers. The site is reasonably close to the Town Centre. The site is within walking distance from the University of Chichester Bognor Regis campus. The site fronts onto the promenade which links Bognor Regis with Felpham. It is well protected by the sea wall although it could be subject to flooding in extreme conditions. There are sewers beneath the land although discussions with Southern Water have highlighted that the location is still very manageable by design and the sewer would not cause any major problems. Sea/Beach Space The beach faces south south- easterly (SSE). It is a steep shingle beach that leads down to a flat sand shelf at approximately mid-tide. The prevailing wind varies between south west to west westerly. The beach is moderately protected from significant swells by Selsey Bill and the Bognor Rocks (a natural reef extending beyond the pier which is visible at high tide). Bognor Rocks is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to the fact that the rocks harbour marine life. It has been advised that this should not impact any proposed activity. At mid to high tide with wind strength in excess of force 3 and direction south-west to south-east waves dump on the shingle making launch difficult. There are significant rock groynes to the East of the existing slipway. (Refer to Map on page 46) This area of the beach is managed by the Environment Agency (EA) and potentially subject to sediment drift. It therefore does not lend itself well to unpowered watersports activity for beginners and intermediates. It is proposed that the existing slipway is maintained for jet-ski and rib launch. Experienced kitesurfers and windsurfers could also launch from the existing slipway. The addition of a groyne to the west of the current slipway would provide protection from the wind. The beach area to the west of the current slipway is managed by Arun therefore any proposed watersports activity is expected to be based to the west of the current slipway. The environment could be enhanced through the use of additional rock groynes. With regards to creating additional rock groynes, various options have been proposed. To avoid any associated issues with the Crown Estate who have responsibilities for waters beyond the mean low water mark, it is recommended that any structure built should stop short of this. (Approximately 80m from the Sea wall). The width of the beach space between the groynes is recommended at 200m minimum to allow for separate zoning for different watersports with swimming and kayaking towards the western end and sailing and windsurfing at the east. Discussions with Arun Coastal Engineers suggest that the installation of such groynes would not have sufficient impact on sediment drift but it is recognised that final approval would require a study of the sort carried out by HR Wallingford. The tide in the Bognor Regis area creates long shore currents. The fastest tidal flow is 1.1 knots at spring tide demonstrating that the area is quite safe. With the exception of high tides and strong winds Bognor Regis has a comparatively safe beach. PROPOSED SITE (Image taken using Google Earth) 48 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

51 5.0 Site Analysis could be developed on the land were looked at. These included the main Watersports Centre building along with the potential for a Standing Wave (housed in a separate building) and a sand sports area for sports like volleyball and beach football. PROPOSED SITE (Image taken using Google Earth) Options were also discussed in order to explore what could feasibly be developed at sea. It was concluded that the most feasible option would be the idea of extending and modifying the existing groynes (or building new groynes) in order to create a sheltered harbour area ideal for teaching watersports (diagram of groyne development as shown below). Inspiration for this came from Folkestone in Kent, where groynes were built for coastal protection reasons but a knock on effect was the creation of protected more sheltered bathing areas (shown below). (Site location in relation to Bognor Regis) Effective analysis examining the suitability of the proposed site in relation to what could feasibly be built on the area was conducted through consultation with; Baqus Building and Quantity Surveying Consultancy The Environment Agency (EA) Arun experts in Building Control, Coastal Protection, Environmental Health, Foreshores, Planning, Site Conditions and Car Parks West Sussex County Council Highways Dept. During consultations with the above organisations, different options of what could potentially be developed on the proposed site were discussed. Firstly options for what (Folkestone, 2010) (Concept Visual for new groyne development) (Image taken using Google Earth) 49 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

52 5.0 Site Analysis 5.3 Planning and Building Constraints and Opportunities Land Based The following potential constraints and opportunities within the planning and building stages for the potential on land developments were highlighted during discussions. Constraints There could potentially be a problem with Butlins Skyline Ltd and the Watersports Centre competing for parking during peak times. There are sewers beneath the proposed site however the location is manageable by design. There are various planning policies to consult. The site is a zone 3 area which means the EA will have to be consulted on any application. It was highlighted however, that there should be no problem with the principal of building a Watersports Centre as long as it is a good design. Emergency access routes need to be maintained. Plant access is also needed to maintain the groynes. (This was the original reason for the current slipway). Potential noise, light and odour pollution need to be considered. Management and operation of the facility will need to be considered due to the fact that the site is in a residential area. Opportunities To include main building (1050 M2, 3 storeys high), Standing Wave and sand area for 2 volleyball courts predominantly on upper level of car park therefore minimising loss of car parking space. To integrate other facilities into the Watersports Centre which are currently fragmented along the seafront in order to create a more focal area. This could include the Foreshore Office and Visitor Information Centre. The building has the potential to go higher than 3 storeys if necessary. To introduce a parking strategy that includes the option to use University of Chichester parking space during peak times and potentially the BT car park in Gloucester Road at weekends, as considered in the Bognor Regis Parking Strategy May Sea Based The following constraints and opportunities within the planning and building stages for the potential sea developments were highlighted during discussions. Constraints Extension/adaptation of groynes could run into territory under Crown Estate ownership as Arun only manages the area up to the mean low water mark. This could be challenging as permission to go into that territory would have to be passed through an Act of Parliament. A further issue regarding ownership would need to be considered. The Council owns a small area of beach going east from the current slipway. The rock groynes east of the ramp are all owned by the Environment Agency. Development would therefore be more manageable going from the ramp towards the west. Awareness of any SSSI will be important although this should not be a problem with the potential development. It will however be necessary to submit an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as part of the planning application. It would be necessary to conduct a hydraulics research study of the sort carried out by HR Wallingford in order to research the effects of the groyne developments on the sea. Royal Society for the Protection of Accidents (RoSPA) and the RNLI would need to be consulted in terms of the health and safety aspects of beach access and safe zoning of the sea for multi-recreational use. Opportunities To develop a sheltered area suitable for teaching watersports through extending and adapting current groynes or building new ones (as in Folkestone example). It was stated during consultation that the new rock groynes would provide an opportunity for safer activities for children, such as kayaking to be offered. The development could help to create a sandy beach naturally through sediment transportation. To improve beach and sea access which is currently an issue as the existing slipway has restricted access. A registration system for the ramp such as swipe card system could be introduced. To improve signage enhancing user awareness and beach safety. 50 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

53 5.0 Site Analysis 5.4 Environment Agency Evaluation The account below is in response to an enquiry regarding the potential development or adaptation of existing beach groynes in order to create a sheltered learning environment for teaching watersports. Thank you for your recent enquiry providing us with some initial information regarding the above scheme prior to producing a Feasibility Study. We are keen to help ensure that new development is as sustainable as possible and therefore appreciate the opportunity to comment on development proposals at this early stage. The Feasibility Study should assess the impact the groynes will have on the existing marine habitat. Groynes may impact the shingle recharge of the beach, should vegetated shingle be present this will have a detrimental impact on a protected habitat. Vegetated shingle is a particularly rare European protected habitat; it is also listed in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. The objective and targets of the BAP are to prevent a net loss of existing vegetating shingle structures or any further exploitation and damage. The Environment Agencies remit focuses on wetland habitat and species. Any application should address retaining and enhancing the ecological value of the site. All wetland, marine habitats and associated species, should be identified via the relevant ecological surveys. In keeping with Planning Policy Statement 9 Biodiversity and Geological Conservation (PPS9), the proposed works should seek to maintain, enhance, restore, and add to the biodiversity interests. The Feasibility Study should consider the impact the groynes may have on geological and coastal processes (sediment drift) of the coastline and any subsequent impact on protected coastal sites. The applicant should be aware that located adjacent to the development are protected coastal SSSI sites, Bognor Reef and Felpham. For further information relating to the SSSI s please contact Natural England. unclear whether all or part of the proposal is on the coast line under the jurisdiction of the Environment Agency. The works are likely to therefore require Flood Defence Consent from us. Please note that the view expressed in this letter by the Environment Agency is a response to a pre application enquiry only and does not represent our final view in relation to any future planning application made in relation to this site. We reserve the right to change our position in relation to any such application. You should seek your own expert advice in relation to technical matters relevant to any planning application before submission 5.5 Ground and Building Conditions Consultation with Baqus and Arun building control has provided the following information with regards to the ground and building conditions of the proposed site. Any structure would need to use a piled foundation with ground beams to support the walls and floor. The building would need to be sustainable and constructed to excellent BREEM, maximising energy efficiency standards and fully compliant with the Equality Act. The current car park is a level below the promenade therefore in extreme weather flooding could be an issue. Due to possible flooding, the ground floor would be given over to possible wet activity. This includes storage and changing facilities. The first floor (promenade level) would predominantly lend itself to the wet cafe and retail area and require storm protection. The second floor would provide excellent views over the proposed water and sand sports activities. New ramp access between the existing car park and the lower level of the Centre would be required. Similarly our main concerns from a flood risk perspective would be the effects of the groynes on littoral drift, and whether there would be any increased erosion to the beach. This would need to be examined as part of any application. We would recommend that Roger Spencer at Arun is also consulted if he is not already involved. Please note, it is 51 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

54 5.0 Site Analysis 5.6 Orientation The building would face south south-east running along shore providing excellent views of the seascape. An iconic building would align with the architecture of the new flats on Gloucester Road. The development of such a facility would also align with Butlin s plans. Building on the proposed site would make the facility very visible from Gloucester road and along the shore. 5.8 Bognor Regis Wind Speed (kph) For mapping of site location, sewer outfalls, groynes and slipway refer to page Weather (Weather2, 2011) As shown in the graph above, between December and February which generally would be the more extreme season for watersports participation, average wind speeds do not get above 21kph (11 knots). The predominant winds in Bognor Regis are south westerly in spring and autumn and westerly in the summer months, which, according to discussions suits wind sports such as kitesurfing, windsurfing and sailing. Bognor Regis averages (Met Office, 2011) Bognor Regis is one of the sunniest places in Britain with an average of hours of sunshine per year with the majority of sunshine hours being between May and August. Due to its location on the coast it experiences an oceanic climate resulting in moderately cool summers and comparatively warm winters. This helps to make Bognor Regis an ideal location for watersports activity. 52 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

55 5.0 Site Analysis 5.9 Tides Tidal Streams Explanation The figures shown against the arrows are the mean rates at neaps and springs in tenths of a knot. Thus 07, 15 mean neaps rate 0.7 knots, mean springs rate 1.5 knots. The fastest tidal flow is 1.1 knots at spring tide demonstrating that Bognor Regis has a relatively safe beach. (Emray, England South Coast, 2010) 53 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

56 5.0 Site Analysis 5.10 Access/Transport/Car Parking At a meeting with WSCC Highways dept it was confirmed that the scale of the proposed Centre does not cause any unsolvable traffic issues. The new A259 Bognor Regis relief road has been approved and work is due to start in the next 5-10 years. The aim is to reduce the commuter traffic and tourist congestion. (Refer to diagram below) A planning application would require details of site access and operation, plus car park spaces and layout. The relatively new cycle way along the promenade would be required to be at least maintained if not enhanced and cycle racks located at the Centre would be helpful. There is possibly an opportunity for cycle hire business Bognor Bikes! The concept of chevron parking along the seafront was brought up at the Stakeholder workshop. WSCC felt that the extra numbers of spaces which could be made available would not warrant the cost to implement and the carriageway would need to be widened in order to accommodate this, plus it would also cause safety issues. Equality Act compliance re disabled spaces is essential. PP Guide 13 should also be reviewed in the design process as should WSCC Transport Assistance Guidelines and the same at National level. A Bognor Regis Transport Master Plan is under development and Arun DC published a Parking Strategy for the town in May In 2011 a survey is due to be conducted into CPZ s (controlled parking zones) and the University will be included in the study. The results can be fed into the planning for the Watersports Centre should it go ahead. The ideas of utilising the BT building and Gloucester Road car parks at peak seasons and/or weekends was encouraged, dependent on ownership of the land. This is covered in the Parking Strategy. Butlin s Masterplan would be a good resource to access re the work that will have been done on traffic and parking issues. (A259 Bognor Regis Relief Road) 54 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

57 5.0 Site Analysis Park & Ride has been considered but is not appropriate to all towns, which is the case for Bognor Regis. It is not identified as a big enough area to warrant P&R and so there is no active proposal at the moment. The Bognor Regis Parking Strategy published in May 2009 took into account the Arun DC Seafront Strategy and the possibility of a Watersports Centre being located on the Gloucester Road car park. It recognised that of the 220 public spaces at the car park it was yet to be determined how many, if any, would be available for public parking once the Centre was constructed. It appears from the Feasibility Study research that at least two thirds of the spaces could remain. The balance between public use and Watersports Centre users would need to be further explored. At present the car park is ONLY under pressure during July and August 7,522 tickets being sold in August in comparison to just 459 in December. The saleable hours are at 50% in August as opposed to 5% in Dec. The 130 on-street parking bays on the Esplanade are also only under pressure at peak season. The other major development in the Seafront Quarter is that at Butlin s and the assumption is that Butlin s will provide for any increased car parking required by their increased capacity. It was determined in the strategy that additional seasonal parking could be provided with on-street bays along the Gloucester Road, weekend use of the BT Car Park and at the University plus further promotion and awareness of the Hotham Park car park (49 spaces) which are underutilised all year round. The St Mowden development is being reviewed in March 2012 having been on hold due to the economic climate. The assumption here is also that parking requirements will be met within the development. All other residential developments are also required to provide sufficient parking. The beginning of 2011 will see the review of the Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) in conjunction with West Sussex County Council and the potential Watersports Centre requirements can be considered as part of this study including peak seasonal requirements. At both the Stakeholders and Experts workshops the potential increased pressure on car parking and access to the current slipway was discussed. With the Watersports Centre facilities occupying 35% of the existing car park, and the need to accommodate additional visitors coming to its facilities (in the form of sports participants, spectators or visitors enjoying the ancillary facilities such the panoramic restaurant), it was felt that, especially at peak times, the Centre could become a victim of its own success and in anticipation solutions should be sought to mitigate any potential access or parking issues. For example, adequate parking and access to the slipway would be needed for boat owners with trailers, one option suggested would be a segregated unloading zone near the current slipway at certain times. The potential of a Watersports Centre and its impact on traffic, access and parking should be considered along with that of all other developments in the town as part of the overall Bognor Regis Transport Masterplan. Should the project go ahead a detailed traffic, access and parking assessment would be required as part of a future planning application. 55 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

58 6.0 Options Identified

59 6.0 Options Identified 6.0 OPTIONS IDENTIFIED 6.1 Introduction The options below have been identified during the Feasibility Study as a result of a wide range of research methods including: Benchmarking - using three established multiwatersports centres at Boscombe, Dover and Plymouth Quantitative - questionnaires via Arun Times and Wavelength Survey to establish demand and potential usage by local residents Qualitative face-to-face discussions with visitors to the area and watersports enthusiasts Analysis and consultation with National Governing Bodies (NGB)s of a broad cross section of water and sand based sports Stakeholder workshop as a follow up to the Seafront Strategy consultation Experts workshop to understand site conditions, restrictions and opportunities Review of local, regional and national strategies in respect to tourism, regeneration, business and sports development 6.2 Option 1 (Concept Visual) (Concept Visual 2) 57 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

60 6.0 options Identified At Sea Two new additional Groynes to provide a sheltered sea area with on beach mini sand pits to create family friendly, children s play area. New, additional slipway to improve access within the safe Groyne protected area On Land Three story, excellent BREEM standard building comprising. The potential to use solar power to run the various activities at the Watersports Centre should be considered. The Centre s location on the seafront in one of the UK s sunniest towns provides a great opportunity and we could potentially get a very healthy return from running the Centre in such a way. It would also add to the iconic facilities that the Watersports Centre offers. Top floor panoramic restaurant and bar with flexible function room space, classroom, foreshore and lifeguard office, management facilities, DDA toilets and access, wrap around balcony. Promenade floor reception/tourist/visitor information, retail, commercial letting space, wet-café/bar and deli with outside deck seating, DDA accessible. Lower Floor storage, outdoors and in-door garage, staff facilities/welcome/hire centre, drying room, DDA changing and toilets. External boat storage compound located between the building and the ramp to the promenade with showers and an area to rinse equipment. Standing Wave Surf Centre. Sand sports area equivalent 2 volleyball court size for multi-sand sport and fitness circuit use. Variables 1 - Standing Wave weather protected for all year round use 2 - Brushboard area instead of Standing Wave permanent or temporary 3 No Standing Wave Surf Centre or Brushboard area 4 Full size Sand/sports area for beach football and rugby 5 No Sand/sports area Advantages/Benefits Maximises all year round sea and sand sport offer, sporting visitor numbers and breadth of visitor profile. Aligns and delivers against regeneration ambitions and Seafront Strategy. Delivers against NGB, Sport England (SE) and Olympic legacy targets to grow participation in sport. Opportunity to attract funding and other support from SE, NGBs and sports bodies. Generate inward investment and therefore job creation from commercial partners. Standing Wave Surf Centre, a real USP. Currently only 3 similar attractions in the UK, this would provide a major destination attraction to the large surfing population on the south coast, and across the country, providing all year round participation, competition and event opportunities. Meets aim to improve visitor experience in Bognor Regis, ties in with national, regional and local tourism objectives. All year round sport and non-sport participation offer for residents, visitors and Butlin s guests. Panoramic view restaurant to enhance the iconic look of the building and visitor experience, nothing else like this exists in Bognor Regis. The inclusion of groynes and new slipway will enable safe beach and sea access under a broader spectrum of wind and tide scenarios to both watersports and general visitors including disabled, pushchairs, young and old. It is feasible that it will allow sand to settle to greater depths. The location will connect the town centre to the Watersports Centre to the East. Education Centre for both watersports and beach environment field trips for schools, colleges and the University. Relocating tourist/visitor info/foreshore office would free up the buildings currently occupied by these services for other use/income. Relocating tourist/visitor info centre would draw attention to the Centre and shift focal point to Seafront. The Watersports Centre would not be standalone in the respect that it would work alongside BRYC and FSC which promotes the seafront as a centre for watersports. Positive impact on brand image of Bognor Regis help to shift perception from Bugger Bognor to Brilliant Bognor! Disadvantages/Challenges Cost, therefore securing the capital and revenue funds required. Dependent on location/size of groynes may need Environment Agency and Crown Estate approvals, due to ownership and control issues. Management and safety of sea environment - zoning the sea area inside and outside the groynes to maximise all year round, multi-skill use. A full-sized sand sports area would reduce the car park by 42%. Further study would be required re sedimental drift implications. 58 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

61 6.0 options Identified 6.3 Optional Attractions (Murphy s Waves, 2010) The StingRay Standing Wave The StingRay Standing Wave machine manufactured by Murphys Waves Ltd is the world s first surfing and skimboarding half pipe ride. It provides a fantastic appeal to all levels and types of board rider ranging from beginner body boarders to expert surfers who want to improve their skills. The curved edges of the ride help to simulate the face of a wave for the rider to carve and even ride up the curved walls at 90 degrees to the direction of the water flow. The half pipe design also provides a great appeal for skate boarders without the worry of falling due to its specially designed unique padded and flexible ride surface. There are various attachments available for the ride such as a tow rope to simulate wake boarding and, although the ride is aimed more at surfers, body boarders, skim boarders and wake boarders, it can also provide an effective and relatively safe training environment for all board sports. For general use, the StingRay can function at a lower power setting to give an exciting body board experience which is ideal for younger children and beginners. For more experienced groups or competitions it can be used with specially designed skim boards allowing the riders to stand up and carve high onto the curved side walls. (Murphy s Waves, 2010) The introduction of a Standing Wave in Bognor Regis could act as a unique selling point and provide a somewhat rare attraction bringing new visitors to the town. The introduction of a Standing Wave in Bognor Regis could act as a unique selling point and provide a somewhat rare attraction bringing new visitors to the town. There are currently three similar machines in the UK in the shape of the Flowrider Standing Wave (designed by Waveloch), one of which is located at the Flow House in Bedford and one at the Retallack Resort and Spa in Cornwall. There is also a BoardRider standing wave in Swansea. If located at Bognor Regis this would be the only Standing Wave on the seafront therefore enhancing the feel of a natural surfing environment. The StingRay could also provide an attraction and catalyst for regeneration much like the artificial surf reef has done for Boscombe. With only three standing waves in the UK it is an ideal time for the first ever UK installation of the new StingRay Standing Wave which could be hugely successful in terms of publicity for the Bognor Regis Watersports Centre which could in turn could increase attendance and open up opportunities for sponsorship. It can provide an attraction for a range of events including corporate team building events, birthday parties and after school clubs which would help to support the Sussex Schools Strategy of increasing participation in sport. It can also be used for competitions, for example the Retallack 59 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

62 6.0 options Identified Resort and Spa hosted the Professional Surfers Flowriding Championships which was organised by the UK Pro Surf Tour (UKPSA). It is important to consider that in addition to the regular fee paying customer, the StingRay provides opportunities for surf classes and an introduction to other water based sports. Finally, it is important to consider that the inclusion of a Standing Wave could help to promote the proposed Watersports Centre facility as a year round watersports destination. It is important to highlight that when discussed, the proposal to include a Standing Wave tends to receive a very positive reaction amongst a variety of people, whether they be watersports enthusiasts, board sports enthusiasts or neither. The idea is generally met with enthusiasm and excitement and although this may not be valuable enough to ultimately decide upon its potential inclusion it should be considered. (Extreme Sports Zone Ltd, 2011) sport included novice and pro riders aged between 3 and 67 years of age. (Extreme Sports Zone, 2011) It is a great way of allowing children to learn without the danger of falling in the sea or getting cold on the snow and it also provides an excellent opportunity for schools to offer a wider and more interesting extracurricular programme to children. The Brush Board ramp has a been developed with a curved drop to simulate the drop into a wave, and different shaped boards are available to effectively differentiate between snowboarding and surfing. Much like Standing Wave surfing, Brush Boarding is becoming a sport in its own right. The Brush Board ramp has adjustable speeds to push all levels of boarder to their limits. Brush Boarding can be seen as a less expensive option to the Standing Wave and although it would not be regarded as a watersport, it could prove to be an attractive addition to the proposed Watersports Centre and appeal to both the residents of Bognor Regis and visitors to the town. Brush Boarding is a very new activity with only one main venue in the UK which is in Topsham, Exeter. The Extreme Sports Zone Ltd is in talks with other places about the potential of installing the Brush Ramp at their facilities. If Bognor Regis were to be one of the first places to offer such an activity, Brush Boarding could potentially act as a unique selling point to the Watersports Centre and enhance the year round usage of the Centre. With regards to the proposed Watersports Centre in Bognor Regis, the inclusion of the Brush Ramp could potentially come at a later stage or alternatively it could be included on a more seasonal basis or during events. (Extreme Sports Zone Ltd, 2011) Brush boarding Brush Boarding, owned by the Extreme Sports Zone Ltd is a revolutionary and innovative multi board sports training activity which allows people to practice the basics of surfing without getting wet and learn how to snowboard without getting cold. The X-training activity can be enjoyed by all ages and abilities, and user trials for the (Yellowave Brighton, 2010) 60 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

63 6.0 options Identified The Sand Sports Area The success of Yellowave on Brighton seafront has helped to inspire the idea of including a sand sports area within the Bognor Regis Watersports Centre development. The proposed inclusion of sand sports area was popular during the Stakeholder workshop and the inclusion of such a facility could provide activities for all ages and abilities such as beach football, beach rugby, beach volleyball and fitness circuits, or just fun activities for children. The sand sports area can offer something to those who are not so keen on watersports activities and additionally, sports like beach volleyball can be a great spectator sport. The sand sports area could also help to enhance the all year round usage of the Watersports Centre. The inclusion of such an area provides an opportunity for the Watersports Centre to work with local football clubs, rugby clubs and fitness centres or gyms. There has been some discussion regarding the size of the multi use sand sports area (42m x 32m) and its impact on parking space if it were to be included as part of the development on the proposed Gloucester Road site. Although this is still an option, an alternative would be the inclusion of two volleyball courts (16m x 8m each) which would minimise the amount of parking lost and still provide adequate space for sand sports. (Folkestone, 2010) 6.4 Option 2 Watersports Centre reduced cost = reduced benefit but with potential to grow/evolve demand lead into Option 1. At sea as Option 1 New/upgraded slipway, on beach mini sand pits to create family friendly, children s play area. NO new or extended groynes. On Land As above but with building possibly reduced by 1/3 to reflect lower footfall due to limitations of watersports on offer and seasonality. Variables 1 - Standing Wave weather protected for all year round use. 2 - Brushboard area instead of Standing Wave permanent or temporary. 3 No Standing Wave Surf Centre or Brush Board area. 4 Full size sand sports area for beach football and rugby. 5 No sand sports area. (Yellowave Brighton, 2010) During discussions with the Rugby Football Union (RFU) it was stated that 2 volleyball courts would provide sufficient space for rugby related activities such as touch rugby games. It would be important to provide a decking area for spectators around the sand sports area and in addition it would also be beneficial to include a covering or roof for both the sand sports area and Standing wave in order to help make the Centre a year round facility Advantages/Benefits Lower cost than Option 1. No need to negotiate with EA or CE. Ability to grow into Option 1 driven by demand Disadvantages/Challenges Not so attractive to SE Iconic Buildings Fund. Managing expectations. Restricts attractiveness to beginners/ have a goers /Butlin s guests, especially outside the main season. Reduces the broader benefit to general visitors and residents. Mini sand pits can be created on the existing shingle beach to offer a family friendly sand play zone as inspired by Folkestone. 61 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

64 6.0 options Identified 6.5 Option 3 Seasonal Container Village minimum cost = minimum benefit. Potentially negative impact v expectations quote from resident participating in Wavelength Survey Will not go ahead (nothing ever does) At Sea No new or extended groynes, no improvement to slipway apart from increasing times of access during the season. On Land Replicate the existing port-a-cabin for jet skiing to extend the water sports offer. Provide on car-park storage. Reception, information, booking office hut. Sand sports area and café on car park (as Yellowave concept in Brighton) Advantages/Benefits 1 The extension of watersports on offer could be piloted for summer 2011 in partnership with local watersports clubs as a test for useage/demand 2 Inexpensive Disadvantages/Challenges 1 Not maximising opportunity 2 Not meeting strategy objectives 3 Not providing positive economic or social impact 6.6 Conclusions Option 1 and 2 have been taken forward for consideration in the development of the Business Case Option 3 is rejected as is does not meet any of the criteria or strategic requirements set out for the Study. Variables a no Sand sport area and café. 62 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

65 7.0 Outline design and Site Configuration Options

66 7.0 Outline Design and Site Configuration Options 7.1 Introduction Incorporating findings from the Arun DC Experts workshops, site visits, benchmark case studies, and options identified in section 6 the Study commissioned Baqus Boxall Sayer to draw scale options of site configuration and a schematic layout of the proposed building. 7.2 Site Plan Configuration Option 1 Clearly demonstrates all the facilities in Option 1 being accommodated on the existing upper level of the car park currently finished to a rough gravel surface. This option has the advantages of: Maintaining the whole of the lower area of the car park (retaining 65% of the total car park area). A liner approach to the building and associated facilities maximising the benefits of the seafront location. Easy access from both promenade and car park side of the building to all the facilities. Use of existing ramp location with possible slight reconfiguration required. (Baqus Boxall Sayer, 2011) 64 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

67 7.0 Outline Design and Siter Configuration Options 7.3 Site Plan Configuration Option 1, Variable 4 Demonstrates the impact of the variable to Option 1 of having a full sized sand sports area, which can only be located on the lower car park due to its size, and has subsequently been rejected due to the 62% reduction in car park space. (Baqus Boxall Sayer, 2011) 65 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

68 1: ST 7.0 Outline Design and Siter Configuration Options 7.4 Watersports Centre Building Layout This scale drawing provides an indicative layout of the 3 storey building, plus outside storage, Standing Wave and 2 volleyball court size sand sports area as described in detail as Option 1 in Section 6.0 above. GLOUCESTER ROAD GLOUCESTER ROAD GLOUCESTER ROAD MANAGERS OFFICE FEMALE W.C LIFEGUARD / FORESHORE OFFICE MALE W.C DISABLED W.C FIRST FLOOR PLAN 1:100 RETAIL UNIT 1 OFFICE PROMENADE LEVEL PLAN 1:100 HIRE CENTRE DRYING ROOM STAFF ROOM LOWER CAR PARK LEVEL PLAN 1:100 LIFT STAIRS / LIFT LIFT PLANT ROOM INFO POINT STAIRS LIFT LOW LEVEL CAR PARK CLASSROOM PANORAMIC RESTAURANT BALCONY PROMENADE LOW LEVEL CAR PARK RETAIL UNIT 2 RETAIL UNIT 3 PROMENADE LOW LEVEL CAR PARK PLANTROOM DISABLED W.C / CHANGING / SHOWER MALE CHANGING / SHOWERS STORAGE AREA FEMALE CHANGING / SHOWERS PROMENADE 35.00m KITCHEN WALK IN WET CAFE MALE W.C FEMALE W.C 10.00m BUTLINS BUTLINS BUTLINS NOTE DO NOT SCALE FROM THIS DRAWING EXCEPT FOR PLANNING PURPOSES. ALL DIMENSIONS TO BE CHECKED ON SITE PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF WORK. ALL DIMENSIONS RELATING TO SUB-CONTRACTORS OR SUPPLIERS WORK MUST BE CHECKED AND AGREED BETWEEN THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR, THE SUB-CONTRACTOR(S) AND / OR SUPPLIER(S). ALL DIMENSIONS ARE IN MILLIMETRES. ALL WORKS OR MATERIALS INDICATED ON THE DRAWING ARE TO BE TO THE LATEST BRITISH STANDARDS AND ARE TO BE CARRIED OUT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RELEVANT CODES OF PRACTICE OR RECOGNISED TRADE ASSOCIATION RECOMMENDATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS. THIS DRAWING TO BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH ALL RELEVANT DRAWINGS AND SPECIFICATIONS OF OTHER CONSULTANTS. ANY DISCREPANCIES TO BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF BAQUS BOXALL SAYER LTD. IF IN DOUBT ASK. THIS DRAWING IS THE COPYRIGHT OF BAQUS BOXALL SAYER LTD. APPR DATE STATUS NOTES LOWER CAR PARK LEVEL HIRE SHOP m2 STAFF ROOM m2 DRYING ROOM m2 * STORAGE AREA m2 LIFT / STAIRCASE LOBBY m2 PLANT ROOM m2 (Subject to Servicing requirements) DISABLED CHANGING / SHOWER / W.C - 6m2. FEMALE CHANGING AND SHOWERS m2 (10 Changing Spaces) MALE CHANGING ROOM AND SHOWERS m2 (10 Changing Spaces) FEMALE TOILETS m2 - Provision for 100 Females. MALE TOILETS m2 - Provision for 100 Males. PROMENADE LEVEL * RETAIL UNIT m2 (Shell only. No Storage, Toilet, Office or Staff Facility) * RETAIL UNIT m2 (Shell only. No Storage, Toilet, Office or Staff Facility) * RETAIL UNIT m2 (Shell only. No Storage, Toilet, Office or Staff Facility) LIFT / STAIRCASE LOBBY m2 INFORMATION POINT / OFFICE m2 PLANT ROOM m2 (Subject to Servicing requirements) WALK IN WET CAFE m2 - (No dedicated W.C Facilities or Staff area and Storage). FIRST FLOOR LEVEL * LIFEGUARD / FORESHORE OFFICE m2 * MANAGERS OFFICE m2 MALE W.C m2 - Provision for 100 Males. FEMALE W.C m2 - Provision For 100 Females. DISABLED W.C m2 STAIRS / LIFT m2 * CLASSROOM m2 * PANORAMIC RESTAURANT - 143m2. No allowance for Dry or refrigerated storage. Kitchen to be sized to suit Restaurant specific requirements. * Denotes Area Provision Below Brief approximate sizes. No dedicated Staff W.C's provided. A 21st January 2010 Layout revised REV DATE AMENDMENT BY PROJECT Bognor Water Sports Centre DRAWING Concept Plan (Space Planning) Date Scale Drawing No A1 001A Drawn By Steve Tubb Iss. App. By BJL File Location C MIDLAND HOUSE, 1 MARKET AVENUE, CHICHESTER, WEST SUSSEX PO19 1JU TEL: FAX: enquiries@baqus.co.uk 66 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

69 7.0 Outline Design and Siter Configuration Options 7.4 Watersports Centre Building Layout - Lower Level 67 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

70 7.0 Outline Design and Siter Configuration Options 7.4 Watersports Centre Building Layout - Promenade Level 68 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

71 7.0 Outline Design and Siter Configuration Options 7.4 Watersports Centre Building Layout - First Floor 69 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

72 8.0 Developing the Business Case

73 8.0 Developing the Business Case 8.0 Developing the Business Case 8.1 Introduction The Study has considered the business case for a Bognor Regis Watersports Centre from a number of perspectives: Indicative capital costs for the options considered. Identification of a possible development/management model. Indicative usage and revenue assumptions for the main activities. Peripheral or ancillary trading activities. Options for operational arrangements and impact upon revenue. Contribution to the economy through employment and wider tourism. It is important that the business case for a possible Watersports Centre is explored in the wider context of the Bognor Regis regeneration strategy, the Centre s potential impacts on the profile of Bognor Regis, as well as the visitor experience opportunities linked to wider and specific tourism activities and the commercial opportunities and enhanced profile for Butlins Skyline Ltd. These issues are addressed within Section 2 discussing the strategic context of the facility. The range of watersports activities and ancillary facilities on offer, how they are accessed and managed, must be developed to meet these wider strategic objectives, whilst optimising usage and income within a safe and secure environment. The business case will seek to determine to what degree operational, maintenance and building life-cycle costs might be mitigated through income generation. The facility options explored will carry implications for the Centre s viability and sustainability over time. This will require a structured development and management vehicle to be put in place that must underpin its long term viability and provide resources to help to maximise its commercial potential. 8.2 Business case rationale The success of a Bognor Regis Watersports Centre will ultimately be measured against its stated objectives. While these are outlined in Section 1, key objectives relevant to the business case are to: Provide a facilities base for watersports activities in Bognor Regis aimed at increasing participation and skill development by the local community, schools, colleges and the University, and people from further afield in a range of sports. Ehance the watersports and visitor destination profiles for Bognor Regis and Butlin s. Cater for the needs and demand in Bognor Regis for identified watersports (and ancillary activities such as sand sports). Provide affordable watersports activities within a safe environment, accessible to all. Provide a financially viable facility and activity mix, management and marketing arrangements, sustainable in the long term, and Secure long term structured partnership arrangements for the viable development and management of the Centre. Measures of success will therefore relate to: Levels of participation (local people and visitors, clubs, educational establishments), skill development, coach education. Visitor satisfaction in Bognor Regis relative to the Watersports Centre and its wider visitor offer, and similarly for Butlin s. Use by local community, University, schools and colleges, governing bodies and clubs and satisfaction with the facilities in meeting their needs and demand. Safe management, control and supervision of all activities by trained staff. Effective promotion and marketing of activities translating into the required levels of participation and income generation to off-set targeted costs and meet revenue projections as contained within the Centre s business plan. The strength, effectiveness and long term sustainability of a partnership development and management vehicle. Linkage with delivery of Olympic legacy programmes and initiatives which may generate revenue funding opportunities. These potential measures of success are addressed within this Section and drawn through as appropriate to the Business Case summary. 71 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

74 8.0 Developing the Business Case 8.3 Benchmarking Section 4 sets out research undertaken to benchmark with similar enterprises along the south coast to extract where possible comparable information. More detailed information was sought from: Boscombe Beach (Bournemouth Borough Council). Dover Sea Sports Centre (Dover District Council/Development Trust). Mountbatten Watersports and Activities Centre (Plymouth City Council/Plymouth University). Discussions have been held with both operators and the relevant local authorities to ascertain strengths, constraints and opportunities which have impacted on the development and operation of these enterprises. Each has embraced difficulties in achieving their operational objectives in the short term with Boscombe potentially proving a more successful enterprise to date. Issues relevant to the business case for a Watersports Centre in Bognor Regis are summarised below: 72 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

75 8.0 Developing the Business Case 73 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

76 8.0 Developing the Business Case Within our appraisal of the Business Case for the proposals for the Bognor Regis Watersports Centre we have taken account of a number of key issues from our benchmark analyses and consultations: The importance of partner commitment, including revenue support if required to help underpin the operation to deliver the substantial benefits to the community, town centre regeneration and stakeholders. An independent commercial enterprise may not deliver Arun District Council s short and longer term social objectives for the scheme. Establish a Management Board, drawing representation from the commercial expertise of stakeholders, responsible to oversee its management and operation. The importance of sports development and marketing committed time and resources by the operator and stakeholders year on year. The benefits of commercial partnership providing resources and expertise to the scheme; this might include the sharing of risk with potential franchisees (eg catering, retail, watersport delivery). The need for all year round facilities (eg sports, classroom/function room, restaurant) to enhance viability. The need to focus on core watersports which can provide the basis of a viable operation. 8.4 Watersports analysis From our research and consultations with existing watersports clubs the following issues are also relevant to the Business Case for those sports included within the core activity mix at this stage: (Continues on page 75) 74 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

77 8.0 Developing the Business Case 75 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

78 8.0 Developing the Business Case 8.5 Catering and Retail summary As described in Needs and Demand section 3.6/3.6.1 the offer in Bognor Regis is limited presenting a number of opportunities. The catering outlets proposed for the Watersports Centre are: A wet café for use by participants before and after their activity, serving hot drinks and snacks, requiring a small kitchen area (and possible hot drinks vending) - space for some occupants is proposed - seasonal (subject to demand). A good quality restaurant for members of the public (not watersports participants still wearing their sports gear) with panoramic views overlooking the promenade, beach and watersports activities - indoor/outdoor catering - some covers minimum (majority under inside) desirable (to be economic) with kitchen and serving areas/counters, subject to design, style and menu. (Access to toilets not used by watersports participants). Open all year round. Options considered at this stage for managing the catering service at the Watersports Centre are: Both outlets managed by one concessionaire on a term lease. Each outlet managed by a different concessionaire on term leases. One or both outlets managed by Butlin s (as an extension to their existing catering operations nearby) on a lease or other suitable arrangement. The retail outlets proposed for the Watersports Centre are: Specialist watersports clothing and accessories. General parts and accessories. Non-specialist, swimwear, beachwear, sunglasses etc. Watersports equipment hire. Bike hire for riding along the cycle path on the Promenade. 8.6 Indicative Capital Costs for the Options considered We have considered the mix and nature of possible facilities to provide for the need and demand identified through our research. The options explored are outlined in Section 6 and are based upon: Consultation with the local community, watersports clubs, governing bodies and representatives from institutional agencies for example. Technical advice from relevant officers of Arun District Council, the Environment Agency and from Baqus Boxall Sayer, Construction Consultants and Quantity Surveyors, for example. Planning advice from Arun District Council. Discussions with the operators of similar watersports centres in other coastal towns as outlined above. In summary the options presented at this stage (with indicative capital cost breakdowns provided by Baqus Boxall Sayer - see Appendix 5) are; Option 1 - a three storey building combining wet and dry service areas, equipment hire and catering facilities (wet café and public restaurant), storage (internal and external of small equipment and watercraft), and dedicated areas for Standing Wave and sand sports facilities (excluding roof structures); access to water and protective groynes. Capital cost c million (excl. VAT/Inc. 12.5% professional fees) Indicative cost at 4.7m includes: building, excluding fit out for restaurant and wet café, groynes, additional slipway, Standing Wave and sand sports area with provision for seasonal covers. Option 2 - without groynes, the watersports activity mix would be reduced requiring a smaller building (approx 2/3 size) for watersports support facilities. The restaurant would remain the same. Capital cost c million ( excl. VAT/Inc. 12.5% professional fees) Sub options might include: 2a Exclude the Standing Wave (or leave to a later phase of development) 2b Reduce the size of the sand sports area by approximately half We have excluded at this stage a third option to provide modular portakabin style facilities for storage, classroom, hire, administration office, vended hot drinks; and similar water access facilities; this functional option would eliminate the restaurant from the scheme, and might include options as described for 2a and 2b. However, this does not meet the overall brief in terms of the required scope and quality of the required facility provision. Other variations and sub-options might of course be considered linked to both land and water side facilities. 76 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

79 8.0 Developing the Business Case Notes to indicative capital costs -Professional fees and 12.5%; -VAT (excluded above but included in BBS figures in Appendix 5 - the application or not of VAT to the capital scheme will be subject to specialist advice, including from HMRC, in relation to this particular project; -Costs of services are indicative only and will be subject to detailed surveys of existing services and ground conditions; -Costs of groynes and water access features are indicative only and will be subject to detailed surveys of tidal, shore erosion, wind and other environmental conditions Procurement The options for procurement would include: The traditional route using an architect to work up the outline then detailed design through to full planning permission, then to project manage the contractor(s) to completion; or A Design and Build route which may have financial advantages is securing the development of the scheme; the specialist nature of the waterside facilities would of course require specialist expertise. The Procurement Programme will need to take account of: Timescales for Committee and Board approvals of potential partners. Timescales to progress funding applications through Stage 1 and Stage 2 procedures. The working up of detailed architectural design for the development. Progress through the planning permission process including the necessary environmental and traffic surveys, for example. The need or otherwise to follow European Procurement Regulations and timescale for the building contractor tender process, based upon the final capital cost identified. We are advised that the following programme could be achieved: 2011/ Progress feasibility, funding applications, Committee and Board approvals, outline planning Detailed design, environmental surveys, full planning permission, procurement regulations and tender process Construction phase Opening - Early Summer Phasing of Build The potential to introduce phasing into the development is somewhat limited (perhaps the Standing Wave) and would be detrimental to meeting the broader objectives of the scheme. 8.7 Capital funding strategy We have identified a number of possible funding opportunities which will be subject to the timescale of any development project going forward and the conditions of the awarding body at the time of application Possible capital funding opportunities might include: Sport England/Lottery funding (Legacy) - Iconic Facilities (Appendix 6). NGB facility development funding. Charitable Trust funds. ENTRUST - Landfill grant. Arun District Council. Bognor Regis Town Council. West Sussex County Council (education facilities development/ahead of the Game Plan). Butlin s strategic development plan funding. University of Chichester - stratefic development plan funding. Partnering Trust - upfront capital in return for a long lease. Commercial funding - loan. Third sector bank - loan. Other. Potential funding organisations would normally expect the development partnership to commit to some 50% of the capital cost with the balance achieved through other funding agencies, stakeholder contribution, fundraising, for example Possible revenue funding Possible revenue funding opportunities might include: Sport England (in support of any capital investment). Governing Bodies for the watersports included. Olympic legacy initiatives. Arun District Council. Bognor Regis Town Council West Sussex County Council. Butlins Skyline Ltd. Environment Agency. ENTRUST - Landfill grant. University of Chichester. 77 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

80 8.0 Developing the Business Case Opportunities would be explored to secure resources and partnership funding towards sport and community development, marketing and promotion of the Watersports Centre. 8.8 Management Vehicle We have explored possible options for managing and operating the Watersports Centre and identify the need for: i) a vehicle for the development and ownership of the asset; and ii) a vehicle for day to day financial management, operation and marketing. We have set out in Section 4 how similar facilities have approached this with mixed success to date. More detailed consideration of the options for the Bognor Regis Watersports Centre, subject to funding being achieved, suggests the following: Option A: Development and ownership of the asset (land, buildings, waterside facilities) could be by a Charitable Trust formed by the partners (eg Arun DC, West Sussex CC, the University, Butlin s, a Watersports consortium). The Trust would set up a Management Board to oversee the Centre s management, operation and promotion. The management vehicle could be: Direct appointment of staff by the Charitable Trust/Management Board, in which case the Trust would reinvest surpluses in the purpose of the Trust (the Watersports Centre) and would be responsible to subsidise any operational deficit; such a vehicle would have the benefits of charitable status acquired from the parent organisation or could be separately incorporated as a charitable trading company from which any surplus would be dedicated to the operation or the charitable purpose. OR Appointment of an external partnering commercial leisure contractor (if this was to be Butlin s, for example, then Butlin s could not be a voting partner on the overarching Chartable Trust as this would create a conflict of interest); in this scenario the Trust would receive a management fee and/or income or profit share negotiated with the commercial operator that would be reinvested in the Centre in pursuit of the Trust s charitable objectives. Further legal advice may be required to determine if such an arrangement would be eligible for charitable benefits such as NNDR as the position between charitable asset ownership and commercial operation could be blurred under such arrangements. OR An external partnering social enterprise or Trust such as, for example, Freedom Leisure (the largest trust managing public leisure facilities in Sussex), or Inspire Leisure (the trust set up to manage leisure centres in Arun District); a management fee would be payable to the overarching Charitable Trust in this scenario. However, as the managing trust would only be enabled to invest any surplus in activities consistent with its own charitable purposes, it might be necessary to set up a local charitable trading company to ensure that reinvestment is restricted to the Watersports Centre. A soft-marketing exercise could be carried out to ascertain the interest of potential charitable partners. OR A Watersports Club Consortium could be appointed or created responsible for the management of all aspects of the Centre as a voluntary body. It is unlikely that this option would deliver the wide commercial expertise or resources that would be required; however, it could assist the Council in meeting its community engagement role. Within each of the above management scenarios franchisees might be engaged for operating trading activities such as equipment hire, retail, catering, for example. Consent from the Crown would be needed for water access; agreement with the Environment Agency would be needed for the development of the groynes as this would affect tidal flow and longshore drift. A partnering contractor or trust could bring the advantage of a capital payment up front in return for a long lease. A charitable trust would bring NNDR benefits (80% statutory reduction and 20% discretionary). Other capital and VAT benefits could also accrue to the public sector partners, subject to the proper structuring of the capital arrangements; further advice from a specialist should be sought on these issues. 78 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

81 8.0 Developing the Business Case Option B: An alternative could be to create a Private Development Consortium (PDC), modelled on the government s Private Finance Initiative (PFI) but without the need to seek PFI credit approval from the DCLG. Such an arrangement would be responsible for delivering Funding (eg Butlin s, other), Development (selected developer) and Management (eg Butlin s or appointed operator as above) in return for a long lease and operating agreement. Such arrangements have been common for schools and other public buildings and there is a limited experience of delivering leisure facilities through this means. The Management operator would be incentivised to take the risk on a commercial basis. A Management Advisory Board could be created including representatives from ADC, WSCC, the University, a Watersports Consortium, for example. The PDC approach would need to be contractually required to deliver the community and sport development objectives of the District Council. A variation on this Option could be a Public Private Partnership if Arun District Council wished to share in the Centre s development and ownership and wished to share in its risk/ profitability to secure reinvestment into the facility. This may also require revenue support if the facility failed to meet its financial targets. The development and operational trust arrangements for the Dover Watersports Centre have experienced some difficulties, with new arrangements for the management and operation of the centre by the Council s leisure centre trust being put in place. The arrangements for management of the Mountbatten Watersports and Activities Centre in Plymouth required revision in 2003 and agreed subsidy contributions by Plymouth City Council and the University. The above options and legal implications will need to be explored in depth and with potential partners who might be party to such an arrangement in order to establish the preferred management vehicle for the Bognor Regis Watersports Centre. Financial estimates for the operation will depend upon the governance and management structure and management philosophy selected. Soft market testing would enable assessment of how an operating and revenue model would return a trading surplus to be re-invested into the development. 8.9 Indicative Usage and Revenue assumptions and projections Usage assumptions (seasonal) Research was undertaken drawing from sport specific participation analysis undertaken by Sport England (the Active People Survey, 2009) and from our consultations with relevant governing bodies of sport, local watersports clubs and other Watersports Centre and commercial operators. This has enabled the study to develop usage assumptions as set out below. We undertook a catchment analysis through CACI Ltd to identify 30, 60 and 90 minute drive-time catchment contour lines and (within the I hour catchment) numbers of people over the age of 15 with a propensity to take part in watersports activities. Results showed levels of interest and likely participation to be as follows: for sailing and motor boating (38,982 = 2.8%), surfing (12,743 =.9%) and windsurfing (12,714 =.9%) of the total eligible population of 1,392,200 within the catchment. This also helped to identify proximity to watersports opportunities within the different catchment areas and therefore the wider accessibility of a Watersports Centre in Bognor Regis. As would be expected, the number of people with a potential interest in watersports within the I hour drive-time contour (given proximity to the south coast) was some 2.5 times higher than the national average. The CACI Catchment map can be seen on page 80 and Particpation Profiles are shown in Appendix 7 79 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

82 8.0 Developing the Business Case We have summarised below an indicative programme of use for the various sports and user types anticipated seasonally. This represents typical use of a Watersports Centre and will be developed according to local and specialist watersports demand. levels of use by the University and schools, and the development of club activities. Key user groups within the programme of activities are identified as: Watersports clubs and governing bodies - instruction, club use, competition. Commercial watersports operators - courses, equipment hire. The University, colleges, schools (education, courses and recreational). Butlin s - a substantial programme of short breaks for specific watersports activities. Local community groups (incl. uniformed groups). Sailability, and all related affiliated groups disciplines for watersports for the disabled. The University identifies a very keen interest in a Watersports Centre in Bognor Regis for both academic and recreational benefit for its students. It would provide: An attraction to students thinking of coming to the University. A centre for watersports education on a number of courses. A source of employment both for adventure education and business students. Butlin s strategic development plan includes refurbishment of the leisure pools complex and an opening up of their complex visually and with access from the promenade. The Watersports Centre concept would assist in developing this new beach oriented profile for Butlin s. The opportunity to offer a variety of short break teaching and recreational package opportunities to its guests would provide Butlin s with a unique commercial opportunity, to enhance its short stay offers and its profile within Bognor Regis. 80 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

83 8.0 Developing the Business Case Seasonal programming Core Sports Sailing, Kayaking, Windsurfing, Kitesurfing, Jet Skiing Note: For Standing Wave and Beach Volleyball, a booking system would be available Seasons May to September (Inclusive) Beginners + anyone September to November Intermediates + Experts December to March Experts March to May Intermediates + Experts May to September Mon-Fri (9am to 4pm) Courses, taster sessions, other activities in 5 core sports (above) for schools, colleges, holidaymakers, retired. School Ages - 11 to 19 Holidaymakers 11 to 60+ Mon-Fri (Evenings 4pm until sunset) General public use/ members use in 5 core sports Plus court hire for Beach Volleyball and other sand sports. All ages. Weekends 5 core sports aimed at families, members, holidaymakers - courses, hire of equipment, use of personal equipment. All ages. September to November and March to May Mon-Fri (9am to 4pm) Kayaking, sailing, windsurfing and kitesurfing Courses aimed at colleges, universities i.e. their adventure education departments. 16 to 21 age group Mon-Fri (Evenings) No watersports courses, but dry side courses such as fitness circuits and Beach Volleyball. General use of watersports facilities/activities for experts 15+ age group Weekends Events and competitions in core watersports Specialist and advanced courses such as RYA level 3, BCU 3 and above General use with hire of equipment available. 15+ age group December to March Mon-Fri (9am to 4pm) Very limited watersports activity, no courses or training Beach environment education for school children Mon-Fri (Evenings) Sandsports - Fitness circuits and Beach Volleyball - activity type will be hire of court Age group 15+ Weekends Coaching courses, conferences, instructors courses and race training General use of watersports facilities/activities for experts 15+ age group Standing Wave Details of typical franchise are being obtained. All year round if facility includes winter season cover. Casual use and coaching courses Sandsports Beach Volleyball Beach Football Beach Rugby Fitness Circuits Sand PlayZone Casual use, courses, competitions Main season April to September All year Subject to weather. Casual use, leagues, competitions, all age-groups All year round. As per Beach Football. Casual use, coached sessions All year round, subject to weather. All year, subject to weather, as programmed. The above indicative programmes and mix of activities have enabled assessments to be made of the numbers of courses, group visits, casual users and equipment hire for the different core activities and sand sports, including benchmarking these where appropriate against activities at comparator facilities. Typical charges for these activities are identified below from our benchmark analysis Charging policy A charging policy for a Watersports Centre should be designed to: Attract high levels of participation from the local community and further afield, from the education sector, from beginners to experts for all of the core watersports. 81 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

84 8.0 Developing the Business Case Offer attractive opportunities such as taster sessions, beginners courses and special rates for those people less able to afford more realistic charges so as not to exclude them from the opportunity to participate. Recover or contribute to the operating costs, equipment costs and the facility life-cylce costs as determined within the Centre s business plan; and Be used as a commercial marketing tool to optimise usage and income all through the year, within the parameters above. Indicative charges drawn from average charges at other watersports venues for similar activities, and including provision for taster sessions, hourly rates and courses from 1 day to 1 week are set out below. These are not proposed charges and do not include at this stage special rates for schools, discounts, concessionary charges and promotional activity, all of which would be proposed for a Bognor Regis Watersports Centre. Junior rates will apply. Sailing Taster session (2 hours) - 20 (junior) 30 (adult) Governing body certificated courses RYA level RYA Level Learn to sail weeks Dinghy Hire -Approx 15 per hour Youth sailing weeks (RYA Stage 1 or 2) Youth Sailing Stage 3 Course (RYA Stages 3 or 4) Windsurfing Taster session (2 hours) day beginners course Governing body certificated courses RYA level Windsurf Hire/Board and rig - 12 hour Youth Learn to Windsurf Week Kitesurfing Taster Session (2 hours) - 60 BKSA 1 day course BKSA 2 day Introduction BKSA Instructor Training courses per person Kayaking Taster session/hour - 20 Day course - 75 Kayak Hire - 10/ hour Standing Wave Hire Per hour/session Various Sources: Averages from: The Watersports Academy, West Wittering Windsurf Club, Hayling Island Sailing Club, The Kite Academy, The National Kayak School, Felpham Sailing Club, Retallack Resort Florider Cornwall, Action Watersports, Dover Watersports, Aqua Sports, Watersports at Cardigan Bay Indicative revenue implications Important issues and impacts that were taken account of in making indicative revenue projections at this stage included: Potential lease/rental arrangements and costs for an operation of this nature, for all or a combination of: -the full operation -for individual watersports operations such as jet skiing, sailing -for equipment hire and retail -for the catering operation (wet café and main restaurant) -or the sand sports and Standing Wave areas if they are to be included. Individual trading opportunities and constraints Indicative building and waterside life-cycle maintenance and structure replacement costs over time - say 21 years. Asset ownership and responsibility. The level of Sinking Fund contribution to meet these obligations. Costs of essential operating systems to meet all health and safety requirements, supervision of activities, legal obligations. VAT implications linked to development and operation (expert advice will be sought in due course). The evaluations and assessments undertaken are based upon the assumptions already outlined for the full range of facilities and activities proposed. The key summary table is shown below: Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Expenditure 510, , ,000 Income 619, , ,500 Surplus 109, , ,500 Jet Skiing 15 minute taster session minute taster session - 40 Beach Volleyball Court Hire (subject to seasonal variation and junior discounts) Per hour Various from 8 to 15 Per course Various 82 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

85 8.0 Developing the Business Case The projections include at this stage: A net return to the operating account for trading activities (e.g. standing wave, catering, retail - activities which may be franchised), and therefore actual income generated by the Centre would be significantly higher; The cyclical cost of replacement of boats, engines and equipment from Year 3; and A contribution to a Sinking Fund for eventual replacement of buildings and infrastructure. The revenue projections would need to be adjusted subject to the management and contractual arrangements which may include payment of a management fee by the operator and/or payment of rent and income share for franchised activities. A more cautious approach to revenue and business planning will need to identify how any operating costs (deficit) will be met by leaseholders/franchisees and/or by the Management Vehicle/Partnership ultimately responsible for its operation. This could require a level of agreed subsidy from partner organisations such as Arun District Council and Butlin s subject to the nature of the overarching agreement. An annual contribution to an operational cost could bring substantial benefits in meeting the objectives of each partner Summary Statement Based upon the detailed assessments and analyses of the business case, the study has identified the potential operational viability and sustainability of developing a Watersports Centre in Bognor Regis that will meet the community, activity and commercial objectives of its partners and stakeholders. The business model to be adopted will be dependent upon further discussions between potential partners to determine the preferred contractual and operating arrangements and policies. 83 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

86 9.0 Economic and Social Impacts

87 9.0 Economic and Social Impacts 9.1 Introduction As stated The aim of the Seafront Strategy will help to establish Bognor Regis as a first class coastal destination. The seafront will be transformed with a year round quality offer to deliver fun, entertainment and enjoyment to both residents and visitors, through a total pleasure experience of outstanding architecture and design, arts and culture, sunshine and sports activities The creation of the Watersports Centre will support this programme of regeneration and has the potential to accelerate sustained social and economic recovery. There is broad recognition of the connection between social and economic deprivation and the need to invest across a broad spectrum of initiatives in order to promote sustained regional regeneration. The regeneration programme instigated at Hastings (Hastings and Bexhill The economic development story, March 2008, is approached from 3 perspectives, Economic Inclusion, Economic Growth and Urban regeneration. It is only by addressing all three that regeneration will become sustainable. Essentially they are linking the creation of a nicer place to live, a safer place to live, a skilled and aspirational workforce with sustained inward investment. The need for regeneration of the South East coastal strip is widely recognised. The SEEDA sub-regional plan for the South East Coast states the following: The Coastal South East is characterised by unique environmental assets and a string of distinctive coastal cities and towns, yet it is an area which has seen continued economic and social decline. The diversity of challenges faced in this area requires close collaboration between regional and local partners. We will need to invest in the potential of individuals and areas to lift underperformance by harnessing a range of opportunities including skills progression, innovation and creativity, economic upgrading and culture and leisure-based growth. We must secure new confidence and vitality alongside regeneration if we are to avoid a spiral of decline. The region is characterised by: Low productivity relative to the South East and, in some cases, the UK. Generally lower economic activity and employment rates. High concentrations of economic inactivity and higher structural unemployment rates. Relatively low skilled profile of its workforce. Lower business density and business start-up rates. More traditional industrial activities, including lower value added manufacturing and the visitor economy. High dependence on public sector employment. A low proportion of employment in knowledge based sectors, especially in the private sector. A greater proportion of people already over retirement age than the regional average, with projections of further ageing. Relatively poor infrastructure and connectivity. Yet it is still seen to be an area of untapped economic potential. The creation of the seafront Watersports Centre will target a number of the strategic objectives for the area as identified in the SEEDA Regional Economic Strategy, West Sussex Economic Development Strategy and the Coastal West Sussex Area Investment Framework:- Supporting culture and leisure-based growth harnessing the power of place and quality of life to stimulate wider economic transformation. Creating cities and towns where people choose to live by investing in an urban renaissance, redeveloping and regenerating key town centres to stimulate development of local economies. Raising the quality of the offer to visitors; releasing the enterprise potential of the creative industries, leisure facilities and the visitor economy and expanding the cultural offer. Improving access to workplace learning for low-skilled, low-paid, low-status workers to enable labour market progression, and working with employers and other support agencies to bring the economically inactive back into work and training. Developing sustainable communities with affordable homes, and a healthier population with less crime Ensuring the maintenance of an attractive and high quality environment. Promoting Healthy communities. Underpinning all of the above priorities is support for three wider themes. These cut across all objectives and are essential for sustainability: Social Inclusion Community Cohesion Sustainability and environmental awareness 85 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

88 9.0 Economic and Social Impacts 9.2 Economic and Social Impact The Watersports Centre will: Create a spectrum of new jobs. Attract a new higher net worth tourist. Create a nicer place to live with the potential to attract unrelated lifestyle business. Provide additional educational opportunities. Be an attraction for prospective university students. Promote a healthy lifestyle image. Support the Brighter Bognor aspiration. Have a wide ranging impact on the visitor economy generating a broad spread of positive editorial. One of the key strategy objectives of the Study was to establish, To what extent would the Centre make a positive economic contribution to the regeneration agenda for Bognor Regis? The development of a Watersports Centre would create construction and associated industry jobs for the duration of the build project offering locally, regionally and nationally based firms numerous opportunities. The proposed Watersports Centre will attract investment from new businesses coming to the area to be based at the Centre itself and to serve the increased numbers of visitors to the town; retail, catering, watersports equipment hire and instruction, Existing retail, hospitality and tourism businesses will expand through increased visitors to Bognor Regis in general and the Watersports Centre in particular. Opportunities for hosting events and conferences will provide opportunities for new business development and existing providers to grow. Relocating the Foreshore Office and the Tourist Information Centre to the Watersports Centre opens the opportunity for the present locations to be leased for other usage, increasing income potential for Arun DC. Job creation is an integral aspect of business expansion; in the Watersports Centre itself full, part-time and seasonal jobs will be created in catering, retail, watersports equipment hire, instruction, event management, customer service. And the businesses that serve these operations will also benefit, for example local food growers supplying the catering outlets. It is fair to assume, based on the research, that the proposed Watersports Centre will attract a broad range of additional visitors families, watersports enthusiasts, corporate course attendees in addition to the current numbers. Based on figures from Arun DC Tourism each staying visitor in Bognor Regis spends an additional 360 on related goods and services. This equates to 360,000 for every 1,000 people who come to stay in the town to participate in activities at the Watersports Centre. The CACI catchment analysis established for three key sports sailing, windsurfing and powerboating - 60,000 people within an hour s drive time would have the propensity to come to a Bognor Regis Watersports Centre. Assuming these are day visitors and based on an estimate of an average spend of 25 per head is conservative. Even at this level and based on 1 visit a year this would generate over 1.5million income alone for Bognor Regis. 9.3 Boscombe Case Study Analysing the Boscombe Reef and Overstrand Building development which opened in 2008 the publicity alone has been worth 10million of equivalent advertising value, generated on the back of the installation of the unique reef. A Watersports Centre in Bognor Regis, especially with the USP of a Standing Wave could generate publicity of a similar level, driving curiosity to visit from far and wide. On the website there is a short video which claims that amongst the economic and social benefits of the development: It has proved to be a catalyst for investment across the area what started on the seafront has spread into the town. As well as attracting the surfing community, more families and general holiday makers are visiting to investigate what is happening. Lessons at all levels have been surprisingly popular, all year round. A number of Surf/Reef themed businesses have opened, retail, accommodation and catering adding to the cool atmosphere. The run down area, with social problems for many years now attracts young people to be part of the surfing culture and helps retain young people brought up in the town to work and play. It has had a dramatic effect on Bournemouth there is a confidence in the town that hasn t existed for 30 years. The Boscombe Spa Village Regeneration Scheme has directly resulted in an additional c. 48 million of private sector investment. 91 new leisure-related jobs created as a result of the redevelopments. 86 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

89 9.0 Economic and Social Impacts Increase in visitor numbers by 32%. Decrease in anti-social behavior reduced by 40%. The regeneration scheme also resulted in a 25% uplift in local house prices. An international PR value of 10 million equivalent advertising costs has been achieved. What people are saying about Bournemouth Local surfers are shocked at the regeneration of Boscombe and the reef is certain to attract plenty of people and boost the local economy. Alex Wade, Surf Nation, Nov 09 A brave council has created a potentially quality wave and overriding benefits for the community are plain to see. What s not to love? Ben Mondy, The Independent, Nov 09. British surfers finally have a patch of water to be proud of. They are, by and large, delighted with the results. Nothing else like it exists in the world. Ed Chipperfield, The Sunday Times. Most local surfers already seem to have given it the big thumbs up. Even on a poor swell a steep punchy wave pushed up as it hit the reef. We were catching short but fast left- and right-handers that wouldn t have existed without it. Fantastic news surely. James Orr, Sunday Times. The reef is part of a multi-million pound redevelopment of Bournemouth s waterfront which has given the whole area a smart, sophisticated feel. Sunday Express, Nov 09 The Overstrand Building including the Urban Reef restaurant. Sorted Surf Shop. Recently developed sea view flats enhancing the quality of the area. Seafront hire equipment. Year round lifeguard service. 87 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

90 10.0 Summary of Findings

91 10.0 Summary of Findings 10.1 Introduction This summary aims to provide a concise precis of the report. The concentration is on the findings of the research at National, Regional and Local level and the options identified as a result Review of Strategic Context The regeneration of Bognor Regis is established as a key aspect of the strategies of the local and district councils, with the aim of bringing wealth creation and employment opportunities to the area. Tourism is a fundamental aspect of this, with the ambition to fully exploit the resources the coast provides to attract visitors and in doing so drive spend on associated goods and services. This is reinforced with the formation of the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership which aims to support the long term development of sustainable tourism, linking closely to the cultural and creative sectors which underpin the visitor economy. The investigation into establishing a Watersports Centre to provide Bognor Regis with a destination facility was identified as potentially contributing to these aims Butlin s continued investment in Bognor Regis, with a further 40m earmarked for a new multi-story hotel and redevelopment of the pool complex reinforces the confidence in the area. A major part of the Butlin s master plan is to engage more with the sea and the introduction of a Watersports Centre would fit with their plans in helping them to achieve this. Active Sussex strategies demonstrate the clear and concise aim of increasing participation levels in sport and physical activity across the Sussex area. This is further supported by the National Governing Bodies of various water and sand sports who are all looking to increase participation levels within their respective sports. Each NGB is recognising their weaker performing target groups in terms of participation and as a result they are introducing strategies in order to combat this. For example, The BCU has recognised that participation in canoeing is particularly low amongst women and they are now looking at ways to change this. The University of Chichester is continuing to invest in its Bognor Regis campus demonstrating its commitment to the town. Various site developments including the historic Dome building and the construction of the new Learning Resource Centre will provide resources for entrepreneurs, businesses and the local community and support business creation and growth in the area linking in with the Coast to Capital LEP Strategy (as mentioned above) Establishing Need and Demand NGB s commitment to increase participation in watersports/sand sports at all levels, particular interest in working with schools/colleges/universities Potential to work with local clubs through NGB strategies e.g. RYA s Onboard plan which looks to introduce groups/schools to sailing then keep them in clubs. Bognor Regis Watersports Centre could provide introductory sessions then feed target groups into local clubs like Felpham Sailing Club and the Bognor Regis Yacht Club Questionnaire results from both the Arun Wavelength Survey and the Online Community Survey showed that the majority of local residents believe the development of a Watersports Centre in Bognor Regis would be of great value to the town. 71.2% of Wavelength respondents agreed that it would be of great value with just over 33.3% who strongly agreed. 95.5% of respondents of the Online Community Survey agreed including a huge 84.4% who strongly agreed. Results confirmed a high demand for taster sessions and short courses in the sports provided whilst using hired equipment. The most popular sports amongst respondents were sailing and kayaking however there was also a fairly high demand for surfing showing that the inclusion of a Standing Wave could become a popular feature amongst local residents. Finally, there was a high demand for a beach front cafe and significant demand for a panoramic restaurant. The Watersports Centre would also benefit the University in a variety of ways. It would allow for course and club development, it would help to increase student participation in sport, it would provide a venue for courses like the Adventure education course and it would provide opportunities for commercial study relating to tourism. Discussions and consultation with various local watersports clubs have emphasised the importance of the proposed Watersports Centre to compliment the services offered within these clubs, in order for it to function effectively as part of a regeneration strategy. Despite the fact that the development causes some concern amongst local clubs it was predominantly recognised that Bognor Regis is in need of something to uplift the town. Consultation helped to highlight the need to offer have a go courses in watersports especially sailing. Some clubs have expressed an interest in operating from the Watersports Centre. 89 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

92 10.0 Summary of FIndings 10.4 Conclusions from Benchmark examples Researching benchmark examples helps to provide valuable lessons for Bognor Regis. The Dover Sea Sports Centre although aesthetically pleasing has various design and operational flaws with regards to the functionality of the building. It is therefore important to carefully consider the types of services that will be offered within the facility in order to ensure their respective operations do not conflict or negatively affect one another. Discussions with Dover Watersports have highlighted the importance of comprehensive and effective management arrangements as well as clear understanding of objectives to ensure that any independent operators or franchisees within the facility work towards common standards and goals. The redevelopment of the Overstrand building and the development of the artificial reef in Boscombe have resulted in significant economic benefits for the town. These include, increased visitor numbers (32%) reduced incidents of antisocial behaviour (down by 40%), an uplift in local house prices (25%) and an additional 48 million of private sector investment. The developments are especially relevant to Bognor Regis due to the fact that they are also part of a regeneration strategy known as the Boscombe Spa Village Regeneration Scheme. Analysing existing benchmark examples can provide the Bognor Regis Watersports Centre with a distinct advantage from the start by learning from mistakes made and equally through adopting methods that have proved successful for other facilities. The successes in Boscombe provide an ideal example of a successful regeneration strategy. Bognor Regis has the opportunity to do something similar to Boscombe through introducing a Standing Wave to act as the catalyst much like the reef did in Boscombe. The Bognor Regis Watersports Centre has a distinct advantage compared to other facilities due to the fact that it has a two valuable user groups right on its doorstep with the Butlin s customers and the University of Chichester students. Results gathered also demonstrate a demand amongst local residents Business case The Study has considered the business case for a Bognor Regis Watersports Centre from a number of perspectives: Indicative capital costs for the options considered. Identification of a possible development/ management model. Indicative usage and revenue assumptions for the main activities. Peripheral or ancillary trading activities Options for operational arrangements and impact upon revenue. Contribution to the economy through employment and wider tourism. Long term viability and sustainability. The success of a Bognor Regis Watersports Centre will ultimately be measured against its stated objectives. Measures of success will relate to levels of participation (local people and visitors, clubs, educational establishments), skill development and coach education, commercial activity, safe management and control, meeting financial projections, and long term viability and sustainability Benchmarking Discussions have been held with comparative Watersports Centres in Bournemouth (Boscombe), Plymouth and Dover to ascertain strengths and weaknesses of their operations. We have taken account of difficulties experienced by each of these facilities in addressing issues relevant to the business case. Key conclusions are: The importance of partner commitment, including revenue support if required, to deliver the substantial benefits to the community, town centre regeneration and for all stakeholders. An independent commercial enterprise would also need to be contractually comitted to Arun District Council s short and longer term social objectives for the scheme. The need to establish a Management Board, drawing representation from the commercial expertise of stakeholders, responsible to oversee its management and operation. The importance of sports development and marketing committed time and resources by the operator and stakeholders year on year. The benefits of commercial partnership providing resources and expertise to the scheme; this might include the sharing of risk with potential franchisees (eg catering, retail, watersport delivery). The need for all year round facilities (eg sports, classroom/function room, restaurant) to enhance viability. 90 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

93 10.0 Summary of FIndings The need to focus on core watersports which can provide the basis of a viable operation Indicative Capital Costs for the Options considered The options presented at this stage (with indicative capital cost breakdowns provided by Baqus Boxall Sayer) are: Option 1 - a three storey building combining wet and dry service areas, equipment hire and catering facilities (wet café and public restaurant), storage (internal and external of small equipment and watercraft), and dedicated areas for Standing Wave and sand sports facilities (excluding roof structures); access to water and protective groynes. Indicative capital cost c million (excl. VAT/Inc. 12.5% professional fees) Indicative cost at 4.7m includes: Building, excluding fit out for restaurant and wet café, groynes, additional slipway, Standing Wave and sand sports area with provision for seasonal covers. Option 2 - similar to option 1 but without groynes. The watersports activity mix would be reduced requiring a smaller building (approx 2/3 size) for watersports support facilities. The restaurant would remain the same. Indicative capital cost c million (excl. VAT/Inc. 12.5% professional fees) Sub options might include: 2a Exclude the Standing Wave (or leave to a leter phase of development) 2b Reduce the size of the sandsports area by approximately half. The capital costs shown above are inclusive of waterside access facilities, groundworks and services, and professional fees, but exclude VAT. Specialist advice will be sought regarding the payment of VAT taking account of the nature of partnership, ownership and arrangements for VAT payment on income, in discussion with HMRC. Consent from the Crown would be needed for water access and agreement with the Environment Agency would be needed for the development of the groynes dependent on their location and potential environmental impact Procurement The options for procurement are either: The traditional route using an architect to work up the outline then detailed design through to full planning permission, then to project manage the contractor(s) to completion; or A Design and Build route which may have financial advantages in securing the development of the scheme; the specialist nature of the waterside facilities would require specialist advice and expertise. The Procurement Programme will need to take account of: Timescales for Committee and Board approvals of potential partners. Timescales to progress funding applications through Stage 1 and Stage 2 procedures. The working up of detailed architectural design for the development. Progress through the planning permission process including the necessary environmental and traffic surveys, for example. The need or otherwise to follow European Procurement Regulations and timescale for the building contractor tender process, based upon the final capital cost identified. We are advised that the following programme could be achieved: 2011/ Progress feasibility, funding applications, Committee and Board approvals, outline planning Detailed design, environmental surveys, full planning permission, procurement regulations and tender process Construction phase Opening - Early Summer In view of the integral nature of activities and facilities we consider that phasing of build would be detrimental to the objectives of the development Funding strategy We have identified a number of possible funding opportunities which will be subject to the timescale of any development project going forward and the conditions of the awarding body at the time of application. These are set out in section 8.1 of the main report. They include possible funding from the main partners (Arun DC, Butlins Skyline Ltd, the University of Chichester) and grant aid from such as Sport England s Iconic Facilities Fund, Charitable Trusts, national governing body development funds (Lottery generated) and commercial loans. 91 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

94 10.0 Summary of FIndings Funding organisations frequently require the development partnership to commit to some 50% of the capital cost with the balance achieved through other funding agencies, stakeholder contribution, and fundraising, for example. Indications are that the scheme could be attractive to funding organisations subject to their rules and the arrangements and legal management entity that is established between partners. We recommend that a funding application to the Sport England Iconic Buildings Legacy fund should be made for a grant in the order of 2 million. This may require match funding from the lead partners and other grants from other agencies, which could include from charitable trusts or a third sector bank for example. We consider that revenue funding might be achieved to assist development and marketing of programmes. The Coastal Development Officer at Bournemouth is part funded by Sport England, for example Management vehicle We have explored possible options for managing and operating the Watersports Centre and identify the need for: i) a vehicle for the development and ownership of the asset; and ii) a vehicle for day to day financial management, operation and marketing. Option A: Development and ownership of the asset (land, buildings, waterside facilities) could be by a Charitable Trust formed by the partners (eg Arun DC, West Sussex CC, the University of Chichester, Butlins Skyline Ltd, a Watersports consortium). The Trust would set up a Management Board to oversee the centre s management, operation and promotion. The management vehicle could be: Direct appointment of staff by the Charitable Trust/Management Board, in which case the Trust would reinvest surpluses in the purpose of the Trust (the Watersports Centre) and would be responsible to subsidise any operational deficit; such a vehicle would have the benefits of charitable status acquired from the parent organisation or could be separately incorporated as a charitable trading company from which any surplus would be dedicated to the operation or the charitable purpose; OR Appointment of an external partnering commercial leisure management contractor (if this was to be Butlin s, for example, then Butlin s could not be a voting partner on the overarching Chartable Trust as this would create a conflict of interest); in this scenario the Trust would receive a management fee and/or income or profit share negotiated with the commercial operator that would be reinvested in the Centre in pursuit of the Trust s charitable objectives. Further legal advice may be required to determine if such an arrangement would be eligible for charitable benefits such as NNDR as the position between charitable asset ownership and commercial operation could be blurred under such arrangements; OR An external partnering social enterprise or Trust such as, for example, Freedom Leisure (the largest trust managing public leisure facilities in Sussex), or Inspire Leisure (the trust set up to manage leisure centres in Arun District); a management fee would be payable to the overarching Charitable Trust in this scenario. However, as the managing trust would only be enabled to invest any surplus in activities consistent with its own charitable purposes, it might be necessary to set up a local charitable trading company to ensure that re-investment is restricted to the Watersports Centre. A soft-marketing exercise could be carried out to ascertain the interest of potential charitable partners. Within each of the above management scenarios franchisees might be engaged for operating trading activities such as equipment hire, retail, catering, for example. A partnering contractor or trust could bring the advantage of a capital payment up front in return for a long lease. A charitable trust would bring NNDR benefits (80% statutory reduction and 20% discretionary). Other capital and VAT benefits could also accrue to the public sector partners, subject to the proper structuring of the capital arrangements; further advice from a specialist should be sought on these issues. Option B: An alternative could be to create a Private Development Consortium (PDC), modelled on the government s Private Finance Initiative (PFI). Such an arrangement would be responsible for delivering: Funding (eg Butlins Skyline Ltd, other). Development (selected developer). Management (eg Butlin s or appointed operator as above) as part of a PFI type consortium, in return for a long lease and operating agreement. 92 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

95 10.0 Summary of FIndings Such arrangements have been common for schools and other public buildings and there is a limited experience of delivering leisure facilities through this means. The Management operator would be incentivised to take the risk on a commercial basis. A Management Advisory Board could be created including representatives from ADC, WSCC, the University, a Watersports Consortium, for example. The PDC approach would need to be contractually required to deliver the community and sport development objectives of the District Council. The above options and legal implications will need to be explored in depth and with potential partners who might be party to such an arrangement in order to establish the preferred management vehicle for the Bognor Regis Watersports Centre. Options considered at this stage for managing the catering service at the Watersports Centre are: Both outlets managed by one concessionaire on a term lease. Each outlet managed by a different concessionaire on term leases. One or both outlets managed by Butlin s (as an extension to their existing catering operations nearby) on a lease or other suitable arrangement Viability - usage, charges and revenue assumptions Within Section 8 of the main report we have set out the core watersports, ancillary activities such as sand sports, and indicative seasonal programming and charges, further to our consultations with community, club, agency and similar facility representatives. Core Sports Sailing, Kayaking, Windsurfing, Kitesurfing, Jet Skiing Seasons May to September (Inclusive) Beginners + anyone Key user groups within the programme of activities are identified as: Watersports clubs and governing bodies - instruction, club use, competition. Commercial watersports operators - courses, equipment hire. The University, colleges, schools (education, courses and recreational). Butlin's - a substantial programme of short breaks for specific watersports activities; Butlin s strategic development plan includes refurbishment of the leisure pools complex and an opening up of their complex visually and with access from the promenade. Local community groups (incl. uniformed groups); and Sailability, and all related affiliated groups and disciplines for watersports for the disabled. The University has identified a very keen interest in a Watersports Centre in Bognor Regis for both academic and recreational benefit for its students, including for teaching, learning and work experience, and student club and recreational use through the Student Union Sports Development programmes; these would include sand based sports such as beach soccer, beach rugby and beach volleyball, sand fitness training, which are all growing in popularity. Butlin's has indicated its strong interest in securing use of the Watersports Centre linked to short beak packages throughout the year involving watersports instruction and 'have a go' sessions, sand sports, to enhance its holiday offer, bring greater use to its hotels, and to establish a stronger profile linking Butlin's with the sea. The company has also expressed a possible interest in management of the facilities or catering. The charging policy would need to accommodate affordable activities for all the community, for all levels of ability, whilst ensuring commercial viability. Financial estimates for the operation will depend upon the governance and management structure and management philosophy selected. September to November December to March March to May Intermediates + Experts Experts Intermediates + Experts 93 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

96 10.0 Summary of FIndings Issues affecting revenue planning and projections therefore depend upon: Potential lease/rental/management arrangements for a combination of watersports activities, (for equipment hire and retail, for the sandsports and standing wave areas, and for wet café and main restaurant); and Indicative building and waterside life-cycle maintenance and structure replacement costs over time linked to asset ownership and responsibility. The evaluations and assessments undertaken are based upon the assumptions already outlined for the full range of facilities and activities proposed. The key summary table is shown below: The revenue projections would need to be adjusted subject to the management and contractual arrangements which may include payment of a management fee by the operator and/or payment of rent and income share for franchised activities. Based upon the detailed assessments and analyses of the Business Case, the Study has identified the potential operational viability and sustainability of developing a Watersports Centre in Bognor Regis that will meet the community, activity and commercial objectives of its partners and stakeholders. The business model to be adopted will be dependent upon further discussions between potential partners to determine the preferred contractual and operating arrangements and policies. Year 1 Year 3 Year 5 Expenditure 510, , ,000 Income 619, , ,500 Surplus 109, , ,500 The projections include at this stage: A net return to the operating account for trading activities (e.g. standing wave, catering, retail - activities which may be franchised), and therefore actual income generated by the centre would be significantly higher. The cyclical cost of replacement of boats, engines and equipment from Year 3; and A contribution to a Sinking Fund for eventual replacement of buildings and infrastructure. 94 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

97 11.0 Review of Objectives

98 11.0 Review of Objectives Objectives To what extent would the Centre make a positive economic contribution to the regeneration agenda for Bognor Regis? The development of a Watersports Centre would enable the town to take advantage of the seafront and the sea which are without doubt its primary assets. It could make a positive economic contribution by working in conjunction with various local strategies for sports participation and enterprise partnership and result in inwards investment helping to restore local s faith in the town. The Centre would create construction jobs during its development as well as leisure related jobs in areas such as catering, retail, instruction, event management and customer service once open. This would also help to reduce the high levels of outwards commuting that Bognor Regis is used to. Businesses that serve the above operations would also benefit for example local food growers could supply the catering outlets. Attracting a new higher net worth tourist would also have a positive knock on effect on local businesses and result in increased spending in Bognor Regis itself as well as at the Centre. Based on figures from Arun DC each staying visitor in Bognor Regis spends an additional 360 on related goods and services. This equates to 360,000 for every 1,000 people who come to stay in the town to participate in activities at the Watersports Centre. The CACI catchment analysis established for three key sports, sailing, windsurfing and powerboating, that some 60,000 people within an hour s drive time would have the propensity to come to a Bognor Regis Watersports Centre. Assuming these are day visitors and based on an average spend of 25 per head during their visit, (which is conservative), even at this level and based on 1 visit a year this would generate over 1.5million income alone for Bognor Regis. The Boscombe Spa Village Regeneration Scheme provides a useful benchmark and an insight into what could be achieved in Bognor Regis. Since the renovation of the Overstrand building and the development of the artificial surf reef in Boscombe, the town has experienced an increase of 32% in visitor numbers, house prices have gone up by 25%, anti social behaviour has been reduced by 40% and an international PR value of 10 million has been achieved. Furthermore a number of surf/reef themed businesses have started up demonstrating new businesses commitment to the town. To what extent would the Centre provide destination appeal to visitors in its own right whilst remaining commercially viable and at the same time supporting Butlin s strategic aspirations? The Watersports Centre would provide destination appeal to visitors in its own right through being a multi sports venue for all ages and abilities to enjoy whilst being supported by a range of ancillary facilities some of which would be unique. The Centre would offer unique facilities like the Standing Wave which could be the first of its kind in the UK. Its seafront location with a quality restaurant and café would provide a year round attraction to visitors. It could help to attract a wider variety of guests to Butlin s. It would enable Bognor Regis to expand its watersports offer. Offer of new sand sports in the form of beach volleyball, beach soccer and beach rugby. Cater for sports based events and competitions attracting competitors and spectators alike. It would provide unique facilities for weddings, celebrations and conferences. Watersports specialist retail offer. Provide taster sessions and courses in a variety of watersports. Offer a focal facility for instructor and safety training. Provide a safe, family friendly area and attractions. Link with local, regional and national strategies for increasing sports participation and in this way contribute to the legacy of the upcoming Olympics and Paralympics. A significant proportion of Butlin s, Bognor Regis customers are attracted by the prospect of being near the sea, however it is recognised that Butlin s do not currently do enough to connect with the sea. The Centre supports Butlin s strategic aspirations by supporting their aim of engaging with the sea more. It would also help them to improve their offer to customers by providing watersports activities next to their own facility which would be highly popular amongst their customers, especially during peak season. How the Centre might contribute to the world-class sports science in watersports reputation of the University and provide a focus for adventure education students and the student populace in general? The Centre will provide integral teaching and learning, coach education, work experience, practical and teaching experience, linked to its Adventure Education degrees and other sports related courses. It would help the University to develop student club and recreational opportunities through the Student Union Sports Development programmes; there are strong, existing links with the RYA. 96 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

99 11.0 Review of Objectives Beach based sports such as beach soccer, beach volleyball and sand fitness training are all growing in popularity; the proposed sand sports element would allow for the development of student clubs, competitions and entry into leagues and national competition; all would be strongly supported and promoted by the SU. An Adventure Sports Club has been launched by the Student Union in 2010/11, bringing together the existing Paddling, Surfing and Climbing clubs. The Centre could become a home base for these and other watersports activities. How the reputation of the University in sports science, physical education and adventure education can contribute to the success and profile of the Centre? Students from the Adventure Education department will provide a ready source of instructors for the Centre. The University will be able to run specialist watersports coaching and training courses and conferences from the Centre raising its profile amongst a wider audience of practitioners. The Universities involvement in the Centre will be promoted widely through its prospectus and web sites targeted at students, alumni and other stakeholders. Many of our PE students take up posts in local schools and colleges and will recognise the benefits of using the Centre to support their teaching. The University is involved in elite competition; it may be possible through these contacts, for example, with the RYA to promote the Centre as a base for elite competition or training working closely with the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy. Those features, services and ingredients (including design and associated features) which would raise the overall quality of the proposition and attract potential users of the facility to Bognor Regis. The Watersports Centre development could include various services and key ingredients which would all contribute to making it appeal to a wider breadth of user and therefore help it to maximise visitor numbers. It would have an Iconic, modern design, taking full advantage of location whilst fit for purpose and complimenting the adjacent flats development. Fully compliant with the Equality Act for visitors and participants at all levels and abilities. Yellowave in Brighton, for all ages and abilities. Activities including beach volleyball, rugby, football, fitness circuits and children s activities. Football, rugby and volleyball teams could develop, and the location could be used for league matches and competitions. With only 3 others in the UK, the inclusion of a Standing Wave could act as a unique attraction to the Watersports Centre and help to promote it as a year round facility. It would appeal to the large surfing community on the southeast coast and provide an exciting venue for birthday parties, corporate team building events and competitions. The development of a sheltered harbour area through building new rock groynes as inspired by the developments in Folkestone would help reduce the effects of the tides and extreme weather and therefore help to prolong the seasons in which beginners can take part in watersports. Other facilities that would raise the overall quality of the proposition include watersports specific retailers, NGB approved watersports schools, classroom facilities and the walk in wet cafe where wet participants could relax in their wetsuits and have a drink or something to eat before going back out on the water. The most appropriate location for the Centre based onan assessment of the Gloucester Road site co-owned by Arun DC and Butlin s. The Gloucester Road site is the most appropriate location for the Centre for a variety of reasons: The site is co-owned by Butlin s and ADC who are partners in the Study. There is good access to the sea via the existing ramp. The site has a history of being used for watersports activity. It is easy to access from Gloucester Road. It is a large area of land with an existing car park that would support the Watersports Centre facility. Planning permission was approved in the past for residential developments. The site is next to Butlin s and therefore convenient for Butlin s and its customers. The site is reasonably close to the Town Centre and the groyne development would bring this closer. The site is within walking distance from the University of Chichester Bognor Regis campus. The site fronts onto the promenade which links Bognor Regis with Felpham. The development would include the panoramic restaurant creating a similar effect to the East Beach Café in Littlehampton. Sand sports facilities, inspired by the successes of 97 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

100 11.0 Review of Objectives To what extent can the facility become a standalone, all year round attraction to visitors as well as residents of Bognor Regis, Arun District and the wider community in the region? Key to the success of the facility will be its ability to operate on a year round basis. The seasons for watersports could be prolonged through the development of new rock groynes to create a sheltered learning area. A Standing Wave provided in an indoor environment would provide an all year round watersports option. In terms of watersports participation, there will be key seasons for beginners intermediates and experts. For example it will be important to market taster sessions and beginners courses between May and September when the weather is warmer and the conditions are less extreme. In the winter it will be important to market the facilities to more expert level participants. The inclusion of a sand sports area will help to attract a different type of visitor and again help to enhance the year round reputation of the facility. The panoramic restaurant would be open all year round. Event, function, conference and wedding location. Local schools, colleges and the University have all expressed an interest in using the facilities, not only for watersports participation but also for environmental studies, away days and staff team building exercises. 98 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

101 12.0 Recommendations and Next Steps

102 12.0 Recommendations and Next Steps 12.1 Introduction The summary of findings clearly demonstrates that the development of a Watersports Centre in Bognor Regis would make a positive contribution to the Seafront Strategy and bring social and economic benefits helping Bognor Regis to achieve its wider regeneration ambitions Recommendation The recommendation is for Option 1 to be taken forward for further investigation as it meets most closely the strategy and objectives set out for this Study. Installing a Standing Wave would be a way of bringing new visitors to Bognor Regis. It would be the only one of its kind in the UK and appeal to the large surfing community in the area and across the country. It would make Bognor Regis Watersports Centre a true destination attraction, enhancing the facility s profile year round and as a facility for all ages and abilities. In 2007 the value of the surfing industry was 200million (Bournemouth Borough Council) and is growing year on year with the increasing popularity of the sport. Including facilities like the Standing Wave and a sand sports area help to make the Centre appeal to the whole family. As highlighted in section 3.4, 64% of watersports enthusiasts and 60% of visitors to Bognor Regis had children. These respondents stated that they would also like their children to be involved in watersports participation either as a hobby or whilst on holiday. This emphasises the need for the Watersports Centre to offer something for the whole family. Including the development of a sheltered learning area through extending and modifying the beach groynes and introducing an additional slipway would help improve access and increase usage through providing calmer conditions for beginners. This would also create a safe swimming and play area for families and improve disabled access to the beach and sea. In order for this to happen the following steps need to be undertaken: 12.3 Next Steps the options set out in the Business Case section 8 Set a budget and timetable to take the project forward to submission of a Planning Application, including undertaking the professional studies and surveys required as highlighted in this Study. ( 250k- 300k). In parallel produce a Case for Support and apply to Sport England Iconic Facilities Fund Second Round in Autumn Taking full advantage of the opportunities associated with delivering the legacy from the upcoming 2012 Olympics and Paralympics as part of the county s Ahead of the Game Plan. Continue a structured programme of consultation, with prospective business partners, interest groups and the local population. This would help sustain the interest and expectations in the project which the Study so far has generated Outline Implementation Plan 31st January 2011 Circulation of Draft Report and Draft Executive Summary to Bognor Regis Regeneration Sub- Committee. 7th February 2011 Findings and Recommendations presentation to Expert Team from Arun DC and WSCC for comment and feedback. 10th February 2011 Findings and Recommendations presentation to Stakeholder Workshop contributors for comment and feedback. 14th February 2011 Presentation to Bognor Regis Regeneration Sub-Committee. Amendments/updates to report. 28th February 2011 Publication of Final Report. March submission to full Council with recommendation to proceed. Autumn 2011 Application to Sport England. 2011/ Progress feasibility, funding applications, Committee and Board approvals, outline planning Detailed design, environmental surveys, full planning permission, procurement regulations and tender process Construction phase Opening - Early Summer. The land owners, Arun DC and Butlins Skyline Limited agree terms to take the project forward. The three partners for this Study, Arun DC, Butlins Skyline Ltd and University of Chichester to evaluate and agree the preferred ownership and operational structure based on 100 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

103 12.0 Recommendations and Next Steps Authors - University of Chichester Tracey Richardson Project Manager Ampersand UK Ltd Mat Haskell Researcher GraduateOn Scheme Hayley Shepherd Undergraduate Tourism Management Dr David Cooper Principal Lecturer School of Enterprise Management and Leadership David Lord Director RQA Ltd (Leisure Management Consultancy) 101 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

104 13.0 Appendices

105 13.0 Appendices 13.0 Appendices Appendix 1 Appendix 2 Appendix 3 Appendix 4 Appendix 5 Appendix 6 Appendix 7 Bognor Regis Resident Population by District Ward Bognor Regis Socio-Economic Classification by District Ward Arun Wavelength Survey Results Online Community Survey Results BAQUS Indicative Costs Sport England Fund for Iconic Facilities CACI Participation Profiles 13.1 List of Consultees Project Board Arun District Council McMann, Richard - Bognor Regis Regeneration Task Force Co-ordinator Butlin s Skyline Ltd Pardy, Jeremy Butlin s Resort Manager Arun District Council Baylis, Calvin Outdoor Services Manager Brooks, Jim Cllr Combes, Colin Principal Environmental Health Officer Evans, Andrew - Cllr Frean, Philip - Policy & Research Officer Gayler, Andrew Senior Building Control Surveyor Graham, Phil Events Development officer Harding, Amanda -Assistant PR and Marketing Officer Henn, Jim Head of Building Control Holland, Brian Engineering Services Horwill, Nigel Head of Surveying and Estates Murphy, Margaret Business Development Tourism Officer & Arun District Tourism Data Steward Nicholls, Miriam Business Development Manager Spencer, Roger Principal Coastal Engineer Standley, Linda Business & Economic Regeneration Management Assistant Taylor, Geoff Foreshore Officer Tooley, Sadie Cultural Development Manager Wheway, Keith Strategic Development Planner West Sussex County Council Carr, Carolyn London 2012 Legacy Manager Clark, Andrew - Senior Finance Assistant, Technical Team Meeus, Chris - Team Leader Infrastructure Planning, Local Development Rae, Nick Group Manger Economic Development Active Sussex Harper, Sally Senior Partnership Manager Atkins Global Ward, Stuart BAQUS Boxall Sayer Lawton, Barry Sayer, Clive - Chairman Tubb, Steve Benchmark Examples Bishop, Stuart Manager, Dover Sea Sports Centre Coulton, James - Head of Leisure Services, Plymouth City Council Coulton, Lesley Chief Executive, Plymouth Watersports and Activities Centre Lloyd, Matthew Coastal Recreation Officer, Bournemouth Borough Council Walker, Charles Leisure Services Manager, Dover District Council Bognor Civic Society Coster, Hugh Barnes, Laurie Bognor Regis Town Council Burt, Greg Bognor Regis Seafront Lights Holmes, Sue Events Manager Passingham, Jason Bognor Regis Seafront Lights Wells, Paul - CLLR Brighter Bognor Coles, Jean Coles, Peter Jonas, Stan Dover District Council Kerry, Mandie - Environment Agency McLeod, Catherine Planning Liaison Officer Felpham East English, Paul - Cllr Felpham Parish Council Harvey, Michael Matthews, Graham Wills, Ian Youth and community worker 103 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

106 12.0 Appendices Inspire Leisure Simpson, Justin Outdoor Recreation Manager Stride, John Chief Executive Local Clubs/ Watersports Schools Bassett, Simon West Wittering Windsurf Club Breach, John Felpham Sailing Club Buckley, Martin Chichester Yacht Club Elwin, Brenda Bognor Regis Yacht Club Elwin, Joe Bognor Regis Yacht Club Fitch, James Bracklesham Boardriders Hardy, Darrel Bognor Regis Jet ski and Boat Launch Page, Christopher Pagham Yacht Club Local Schools and Colleges Bognor Regis Community College Chichester College (14+ Curriculum & Enrichment) Felpham Community College Our Lady of Sion Slindon College Westergate School Worthing High Murphys Waves Ltd Murphy, Douglas Stuart, Jim Walsh, Neil National Governing Bodies Argyle, Matthew - Chairman, British Stand Up Paddle Association - Unofficial Bradshaw, Mike British Spear Fishing Association Brown, Dan Leisure Rugby and Events Manager, Rugby Football Union Byatt, Andrew - Operations Manager, Surf Life Saving, GB Edge, Chris Paddlesport Development Officer, British Canoe Union/ Canoe England Gowers, Richard Chairman, British Kitesurfing Association Hawkins, John Chief Executive, England Beach Soccer Hooper, Andy Regional Development Manager (South- East), Royal Yachting Association Johnson, Stuart (Volleyball England) Head of Development Llloyd, Mark Chief Executive, Angling Trust Lorenzato, Paul (British Rowing) Coaching and Development Team Leader Sutton, Keith South East Regional Director, Amateur Swimming Association Project Steering Group Clegg, Andrew Cooper, David Dixon, Andrew Lord, David Shepway District Council Paine, Colin Engineering Manager Sport England Lewis, Roger Senior Grants Manager University of Chichester Behagg, Clive Vice Chancellor Berry, Matt Adventure Education Senior Lecturer Bunyon, Peter - Head of Adventure Education Butler, Gill Christian, Ed Adventure Education Senior Lecturer Coley, Sandra Business Development manager (REEO) Gilroy, Sarah Fletcher, Sid - Student Union Sports Development Administrator Frampton, Steve - Project Office, Standards and Security Manager Hodgson, Chris Adventure Education Senior Lecturer Pike, Elizabeth Robins, Dawn Researcher Urban Reef Cribb, Mark Proprietor Vision Group Frears, Tom - Chairman 13.2 References Online Action Watersports, 2010 [Online] Available from URL:< ml Anglet, 2010 [Online] Available from URL:< BBC, 2010 [Online] Available from URL:< Beach Volleyball, 2010 [Online] Available from URL:< Bognor Regis Retail and Catering, 2011 [Online] Available from URL:< Bognor Regis Seafront Strategy, 2009 [Online] Available from URL:< n/seafront_strategy/draft_bognor_regis_seafront_strateg y.pdf 104 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

107 12.0 Appendices Boscombe Regeneration, 2010 [Online] Available from: URL< tion Boscombe Spa Village Regeneration Scheme, 2010 [Online] Available from: URL< mbe%20spa%20village%20regeneration%20scheme.pd f BKSA, Hayling Island Kite Surf School, 2010 [Online] Available from URL:< g/90-hayling-island-kitesurf-school.html Bournemouth Surf Reef, 2011 [Online] Available from URL:< British Canoe Union, 2011 [Online] Available from URL:< British Kitesurfing Association, 2010 [Online] Available from URL:< British Marine Federation, 2008 [Online] Available from URL:< British Rowing, 2010 [Online] Available from URL:< British Surfing Association, 2011 [Online] Available from URL:< British Swimming and the ASA, 2009 [Online] Available from URL:< British Water Ski and Wakeboard, 2011 [Online] Available from URL:< fault.aspx?tabid=40 Brush Boarding, Extreme Sports Zone, 2011[Online] Available from URL:< Brushing up on boarding skills with new sport, 2010 [Online] Available from URL:< BSUPA, 2010 [Online] Available from URL:< Catching the Wave, 2004 [Online] Available from URL:< watersportstourismstrategyeng.pdf (Cited Cardigan Bay Watersports, 2010 [Online] Available from URL:< Chichester Watersports Centre, 2011 [Online] Available from URL:< Cobnor Activities Centre, 2011 [Online] Available from URL:< Datchet Water Sailing Club, 2011 [Online] Available from URL:< Dover Watersports, 2011 [Online] Available from URL:< England Beach Soccer, 2009 [Online] Available from URL:< Enjoying water in the London and South East region Report on Stakeholder Workshop Findings [Online] Available from URL:< Fistral Beach, 2010 [Online] Available from URL:< Flow House Bedford, 2010 [Online] Available from URL:< Hayle Canoe Club, 2007 [Online] Available from URL:< Hayling Island Sailing Club, 2011 [Online] Available from URL:< Inspire Leisure, 2009 [Online] Available from URL:< Jet Sport Racing Association [Online] Available from URL:< Le surf Aujourd hui, 2008, Le surf et l économie [Online] (Cited 23 January 10) Available from < URL: Met Office, 2010 [Online] Available from URL:< /sites/bognor_regis.html Mountbatten Centre, Plymouth, 2008 [Online] Available from URL:< Murphy s Waves Ltd, 2009 [Online] Available from 105 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

108 12.0 Appendices URL:< National Kayak School, 2009 [Online] Available from URL:< ces.asp Natural England, 2010 [Online] Available from URL:< tion/designatedareas/sssi/default.aspx Neighbourhood Statistics, Hotham, 2004 [Online] Available from URL:< LeadTableView.do?a=3&b= &c=hotham&d=14&e= 13&g=495288&i=1001x1003x1004&k=population&o=322& m=0&r=1&s= &enc=1&dsfamilyid=41 Neighbourhood Statistics, Hotham, 2010 [Online] Available from URL:< LeadTableView.do?a=7&b= &c=hotham&d=14&g= &i=1001x1003x1006&k=population&m=0&r=1&s= &enc=1&domainId=13&dsFamilyId=1818 Neighbourhood Statistics, Marine, 2004 [Online] Available from URL:< nation/leadtableview.do?a=3&b= &c=marine&d=1 4&e=13&g=495308&i=1001x1003x1004&o=322&m=0&r=1 &s= &enc=1&dsfamilyid=41 Neighbourhood Statistics, Marine 2010 [Online] Available from URL:< nation/leadtableview.do?a=7&b= &c=marine&d=1 4&e=13&g=495308&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s= &enc=1&dsFamilyId=1818 Neighbourhood Statistics, Orchard, 2004 [Online] Available from URL:< nation/leadtableview.do?a=3&b= &c=orchard&d= 14&e=13&g=495348&i=1001x1003x1004&o=322&m=0&r= 1&s= &enc=1&dsFamilyId=4 Neighbourhood Statistics, Orchard, 2010 [Online] Available from URL:< nation/leadtableview.do?a=7&b= &c=orchard&d= 14&e=13&g=495348&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s= &enc=1&dsFamilyId=1818 Neighbourhood Statistics, Pevensey, 2004 [Online] Available from URL:< nation/leadtableview.do?a=3&b= &c=pevensey& d=14&e=13&g=495395&i=1001x1003x1004&o=322&m=0& r=1&s= &enc=1&dsfamilyid=41 Neighbourhood Statistics, Pevensey, 2010 [Online] Available from URL:< nation/leadtableview.do?a=7&b= &c=pevensey& d=14&e=13&g=495395&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s= &enc=1&dsFamilyId=1818 Office for National Statistics, 2008 [Online] Available from URL:< Old Photos, 2005 [Online ] Available from URL:< Point Plage, 2011 [Online] Available from URL:< Portsmouth Watersports Centre, 2010 [Online] Available from URL:< Retallack Resort and Spa, Flowrider Cornwall [Online] Available from URL:< RFU, Recruitment and Retention Play, 2001 [Online] Available from URL:< nt/~/media/files/2010/managingrugby/cbmanagement/c B_1602/9380_Play2011_Andy_Lees_v3.ashx Royal Yachting Association, 2011 [Online] Available from URL:< efault.aspx Rugby Football Union, 2011 [Online] Available from URL:< h.aspx Sport England Market Segmentation, 2010 [Online] Available from URL:< y=segments#segment=dominant&focustype=la&focusna me=4&output=map&map=polygon&polygontype=oa&cat chmenttype=focus&querysource=segments&querytype= SegRank1 Spray Watersports [Online] Available from URL:< 13&feature=11&venue= Stand up Paddle, 2010 [Online] Available from 106 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

109 12.0 Appendices URL:< Surf Life Saving GB, 2010 [Online] Available from URL:< Sussex County Sports Partnership Trust, 2009 [Online] Available from URL:< (Cited The Guardian, 2009 [Online] Available from URL:< 8/1 The Kite Academy, 2010 [Online] Available from URL:< The UK Tourist Statistics [Online] Available from URL:< _tcm pdf The Watersports Academy, 2009 [Online] Available from URL:< Tourism contribution to the economy, 2010 [Online] Available from URL:< obritainstourism/tourismmatters/index.aspx Tourism South-East, 2009 [Online] Available from URL:< estic%20overnight%20tourism%20in%20the%20south %20East% pdf Tourism Volume and Value, 2010 [Online] Available from URL:< UK domestic tourism basks in cash-strapped summer, 2008 [Online] Available from URL:< UK Pro Surf Tour, 2011 [Online] Available from URL:< UK Windsurfing Association, 2010 [Online] Available from URL:< Vista Leisure, 2005 [Online] Available from URL:< Volleyball England, 2011 [Online] Available from URL:< Wales aims to rule the waves, 2004 [Online] Available from URL:< Watersport and Leisure Participation Survey, 2009 [Online] Available from URL:< ortsandleisureomnibus2009finalpublic.pdf (Cited Waveloch, 2009 [Online] Available from URL:< Weather2, 2011 [Online] Available from URL:< Kingdom/Bognor-Regis/climate-profile.aspx Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, 2010 [Online] Available from URL:< X-Train Watersports Tuition, 2010 [Online] Available from URL:< Yellowave Beach sports, 2009 [Online] Available from URL:< Yorkshirepost, Thousands of reasons why UK seaside holiday is far from dead, 2010 [Online] Available from URL:< (Cited ) 50 ans de surf à Biarritz, 2007, [Online] (Cited 23 January 10) Available from < URL: programme.php Reports Active People Survey (APS) results for Canoeing Period: APS2 (Oct 07 / Oct 08) to APS3 (Oct 08 / Oct 09) Active People Survey (APS) results for Rowing Period: APS2 (Oct 07 / Oct 08) to APS3 (Oct 08 / Oct 09) Active People Survey (APS) results for Sailing Period: APS2 (Oct 07 / Oct 08) to APS3 (Oct 08 / Oct 09), 2009 Active People Survey (APS) results for Swimming Period: APS2 (Oct 07 / Oct 08) to APS3 (Oct 08 / Oct 09) Active People Survey (APS) results for Volleyball Period: APS2 (Oct 07 / Oct 08) to APS3 (Oct 08 / Oct 09) An Economic Strategy for Arun Arkenford Segmentation Report for the Arun District, 2005, Tourism South East Marketing and Research Unit 107 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

110 12.0 Appendices Arun District Council, Bognor Regis Parking Strategy, 2009 A Strategic Framework for the West Sussex Visitor Economy, 2005 Beach safety guidance and recommendations for Arun District Council, 2008 BKSA Schools Manual, 2008 Boscombe Spa Development Information Pack, 2006 Boscombe Spa Village Regeneration Scheme, 2010 Bournemouth Borough Council, Seafront Strategy, British Canoe Union Development Plan Coast to Capital, Local Enterprise Partnership, 2010 Department for Transport, National Travel Survey, 2009 Her Majesty s Government and the Marine Management Organisation Framework Document, 2010 Industry Revenue by Region, British Marine Federation, Key Performance Indicators, 2009/2010 Managing Personal Watercraft, A guide for local and harbour authorities Risk Assessment Matrix, In association with the Keep Wales Tidy, Keep Scotland Beautiful and ENCAMS RNLI, A Guide to Coastal Public Rescue Equipment, 2007 Shepway Economic Regeneration Strategy, 2007, 2017 Sussex by the Sea Visitor Strategy The Economic Impact of Tourism on Arun, 2008 The Economic Impact of Tourism Arun 2009 The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, A review of Water Safety & Generic Risk Management Principles for Arun District Council, 2008 Tourism South East, 2001, Sports and Resorts Report, Sport, Health and Fitness Led Tourism on the South East Coast Volleyball England Strategic Plan, Volume and Value of Domestic Overnight Tourism in the South East 2009 West Sussex Ahead of the Game Plan for the 2012 Games: West Sussex Cultural Strategy West Sussex Skills Action Plan, With You, For You - A Strategy for West Sussex, Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

111 12.0 Appendices Appendix 1 Bognor Regis Resident Population by Ward Hotham Ward Resident Population Estimates by Broad Age Band, Mid 2009 Hotham Arun South East England Ward Non-Metropolitan District Region Country All Persons; All Ages Count Persons Jun All Persons; Aged 0-15 Count Persons Jun All Persons; Aged Count Persons Jun All Persons; Aged Count Persons Jun All Persons; Aged (Males), (Females) Count Persons Jun All Persons; Aged 65 and Over (Males), 60 and Over Count Persons Jun (Females) All Persons; Aged (Males), (Females) Count Persons Jun Males; All Ages Count Persons Jun Males; Aged 0-15 Count Persons Jun Males; Aged Count Persons Jun Males; Aged Count Persons Jun Males; Aged Count Persons Jun Males; Aged 65 and Over Count Persons Jun Males; Aged Count Persons Jun Females; All Ages Count Persons Jun Females; Aged 0-15 Count Persons Jun Females; Aged Count Persons Jun Females; Aged Count Persons Jun Females; Aged Count Persons Jun Females; Aged 60 and Over Count Persons Jun Females; Aged Count Persons Jun (Neighbourhood Statistics, Hotham, 2010) Marine Ward Resident Population Estimates by Broad Age Band, Mid 2009 Marine Arun South East England Ward Non-Metropolitan District Region Country All Persons; All Ages Count Persons Jun All Persons; Aged 0-15 Count Persons Jun All Persons; Aged Count Persons Jun All Persons; Aged Count Persons Jun All Persons; Aged (Males), (Females) Count Persons Jun All Persons; Aged 65 and Over (Males), 60 and Over Count Persons Jun (Females) All Persons; Aged (Males), (Females) Count Persons Jun Males; All Ages Count Persons Jun Males; Aged 0-15 Count Persons Jun Males; Aged Count Persons Jun Males; Aged Count Persons Jun Males; Aged Count Persons Jun Males; Aged 65 and Over Count Persons Jun Males; Aged Count Persons Jun Females; All Ages Count Persons Jun Females; Aged 0-15 Count Persons Jun Females; Aged Count Persons Jun Females; Aged Count Persons Jun Females; Aged Count Persons Jun Females; Aged 60 and Over Count Persons Jun Females; Aged Count Persons Jun (Neighbourhood Statistics Marine, 2010) 109 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

112 12.0 Appendices Orchard Ward Resident Population Estimates by Broad Age Band, Mid 2009 Orchard Arun South East England Ward Non-Metropolitan District Region Country All Persons; All Ages Count Persons Jun All Persons; Aged 0-15 Count Persons Jun All Persons; Aged Count Persons Jun All Persons; Aged Count Persons Jun All Persons; Aged (Males), (Females) Count Persons Jun All Persons; Aged 65 and Over (Males), 60 and Over Count Persons Jun (Females) All Persons; Aged (Males), (Females) Count Persons Jun Males; All Ages Count Persons Jun Males; Aged 0-15 Count Persons Jun Males; Aged Count Persons Jun Males; Aged Count Persons Jun Males; Aged Count Persons Jun Males; Aged 65 and Over Count Persons Jun Males; Aged Count Persons Jun Females; All Ages Count Persons Jun Females; Aged 0-15 Count Persons Jun Females; Aged Count Persons Jun Females; Aged Count Persons Jun Females; Aged Count Persons Jun Females; Aged 60 and Over Count Persons Jun Females; Aged Count Persons Jun (Neighbourhood Statistics Orchard, 2010) Pevensey Ward Resident Population Estimates by Broad Age Band, Mid 2009 Pevensey Arun South East England Ward Non-Metropolitan District Region Country All Persons; All Ages Count Persons Jun All Persons; Aged 0-15 Count Persons Jun All Persons; Aged Count Persons Jun All Persons; Aged Count Persons Jun All Persons; Aged (Males), (Females) Count Persons Jun All Persons; Aged 65 and Over (Males), 60 and Over Count Persons Jun (Females) All Persons; Aged (Males), (Females) Count Persons Jun Males; All Ages Count Persons Jun Males; Aged 0-15 Count Persons Jun Males; Aged Count Persons Jun Males; Aged Count Persons Jun Males; Aged Count Persons Jun Males; Aged 65 and Over Count Persons Jun Males; Aged Count Persons Jun Females; All Ages Count Persons Jun Females; Aged 0-15 Count Persons Jun Females; Aged Count Persons Jun Females; Aged Count Persons Jun Females; Aged Count Persons Jun Females; Aged 60 and Over Count Persons Jun Females; Aged Count Persons Jun (Neighbourhood Statistics, Pevensey, 2010) 110 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

113 12.0 Appendices Appendix 2 Bognor Regis Socio-Economic Classification Hotham Ward National Statistics Socio-economic Classification - All People (KS14A) 2001 Hotham Arun South East England Ward Non-Metropolitan District Region Country All people aged Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Large employers and higher managerial Count Persons Apr occupations People aged 16-74: Higher professional occupations Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Lower managerial and professional occupations Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Intermediate occupations Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Small employers and own account workers Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Lower supervisory and technical occupations Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Semi-routine occupations Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Routine occupations Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Never worked Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Long-term unemployed Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Full-time students Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Not classifiable for other reasons Count Persons Apr (Neighbourhood Statistics, Hotham, 2004) Marine Ward National Statistics Socio-economic Classification - All People (KS14A) 2001 Marine Arun South East England Ward Non-Metropolitan District Region Country All people aged Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Large employers and higher managerial occupations Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Higher professional occupations Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Lower managerial and professional occupations Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Intermediate occupations Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Small employers and own account workers Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Lower supervisory and technical occupations Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Semi-routine occupations Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Routine occupations Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Never worked Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Long-term unemployed Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Full-time students Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Not classifiable for other reasons Count Persons Apr (Neighbourhood Statistics, Marine, 2004) 111 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

114 12.0 Appendices Orchard Ward National Statistics Socio-economic Classification - All People (KS14A) 2001 Orchard Arun South East England Ward Non-Metropolitan District Region Country All people aged Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Large employers and higher managerial occupations Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Higher professional occupations Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Lower managerial and professional occupations Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Intermediate occupations Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Small employers and own account workers Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Lower supervisory and technical occupations Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Semi-routine occupations Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Routine occupations Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Never worked Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Long-term unemployed Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Full-time students Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Not classifiable for other reasons Count Persons Apr (Neighbourhood Statistics, Orchard, 2004) Pevensey Ward National Statistics Socio-economic Classification - All People (KS14A) 2001 Pevensey Arun South East England Ward Non-Metropolitan District Region Country All people aged Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Large employers and higher managerial Count Persons Apr occupations People aged 16-74: Higher professional occupations Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Lower managerial and professional occupations Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Intermediate occupations Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Small employers and own account workers Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Lower supervisory and technical occupations Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Semi-routine occupations Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Routine occupations Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Never worked Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Long-term unemployed Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Full-time students Count Persons Apr People aged 16-74: Not classifiable for other reasons Count Persons Apr (Neighbourhood Statistics, Pevensey, 2004) 112 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

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134 12.0 Appendices Appendix 6 SPORT ENGLAND ICONIC FACILITIES FUND Round 1 1 November - 5pm, 16 December 2010 Round 2 Opens Autumn 2011 Round 3 Opens Autumn 2012 World-leading facilities are not simply the most attractive in terms of design, nor the most advanced in terms of equipment - they are sustainable in their operations and focused on their users. Sport England's Iconic Facilities fund draws on the inspirational pull of London 2012 to create local beacons for grassroots sport. We are investing 30m over the next three years in innovative, large-scale, multi-sport facilities' projects that are regionally significant for at least two sports and can demonstrate long-term financial viability. The Iconic Facilities fund is part of the 135m Places People Play initiative which will deliver an Olympic and Paralympic legacy of increased sports participation by bringing the magic of a home Games into the heart of local communities. It is being delivered by Sport England in partnership with the British Olympic Association, the British Paralympic Association, with the backing of The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. Iconic Facilities is one of the three Places programmes which will transform the places where people play sport, in cities, towns and villages across the country. Th facilities supported through these programmes will be the only ones to carry the London 2012 Inspire mark, a permanent celebration of their role in the legacy of the Games. In this way, Iconic Facilities will use the inspirational pull of London 2012 to enchance a successful existing funding programme, previously known as the Sustainable Facilities fund. 132 Bognor Regis Watersports Centre Feasibility Study

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