Green Light For First Phase Of Rhyl Waterfront Funding

The redevelopment of Rhyl waterfront has taken a significant step forward today (Tuesday), with Denbighshire County Council’s Cabinet announcing the green light to a £4.5 million investment in the first phase of the programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The investment for the hospitality zone is being funded through a Welsh Government grant of £3.5 million, proceeds from the sale of the former Honey Club site and contributions from council services. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The funding is to be used to fund the demolition of the Sun Centre, internal improvements to the Pavilion Theatre, external re-cladding of theatre, refurbishment of east car park; improvements to the Children’s Village car park; Sky Tower enhancement; design fees for the proposed Aquatic Centre, Sun Centre hoardings and demolition of Unit C at the Children’s Village. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The proposed development is divided into four distinct zones along the Waterfront in Rhyl. These zones comprise the following: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

1. The Hospitality Zone proposes the partial refurbishment of the Pavilion Theatre, construction of a new hotel, family pub and a separate restaurant/retail unit, and demolition of the Sun Centre. A possible new facility to complement the Pavilion is also being considered but is still at an early stage of development with a business case yet to be completed. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

2. The Active Leisure Zone proposes the creation of new commercial outdoor leisure activities in the area between Memorial Garden and the Events Arena ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

3. The Family Entertainment Phase proposes the creation of a Town Plaza incorporating a selection of restaurants adjacent to the existing cinema and the Sky Tower. The latter is proposed for refurbishment as a static light beacon. The proposals also include some demolitions on the Children’s Village and an improved and refurbished Underground Car Park. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

4. The Aquatic Centre Phase proposes a new water attraction to replace the former Sun Centre to be located next to the Family Entertainment Zone. A business case for this is currently under consideration. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, Leader of Denbighshire County Council, said: “This is an important milestone for Rhyl’s waterfront development and the funding decision signifies the on-going commitment in Denbighshire to progress with this major project. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Work currently taking place to demolish the Sun Centre is the first piece of the regeneration jig-saw, with work also due to start on re-modelling the Pavilion Theatre. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Developments and improvements to the promenade aim to not only benefit Rhyl’s economy through increased footfall from visitors but also the residents of Rhyl, Denbighshire and wider North Wales communities, to ensure they know exactly what our town has to offer ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The recent £3.5million funding received through the Welsh Government’s Vibrant and Viable places scheme has allowed us to accelerate work on many elements of the scheme, including the demolition of the Sun Centre. Rhyl’s new waterfront development will include an Aquatic Centre to replace the former Sun Centre. A decision on actual proposals for the first phase will be made in the autumn” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The waterfront development project is worth £33 million in total and has been funded partly by the Welsh Government and Denbighshire County Council, with the remainder from private sector investment being secured by Neptune Developments Limited. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​