A MARINA proposed for Poole Quay by harbour commissioners has been put in jeopardy by a last-minute rival bid.

Europe’s largest marina group MDL, which owns Cobbs Quay at Hamworthy, has proposed its own version of Poole Harbour Commissioners £25million, 900-berth marine centre, and has emerged as the frontrunner with The Crown Estate.

This commercial property business owns the seabed and its approval is needed, in return for a percentage of turnover. The Crown Estate was contacted by two other marina operators, of which one MDL, put in a bid and has emerged as the prospective preferred bidder.

The MDL proposal is for a 600 berth, high tech marina with a “significant public facility that will offer unrivalled views across the harbour for all to enjoy”.

MDL, which has operated the 850 berth Cobbs Quay marina in Holes Bay for more than 20 years, says the two will run alongside and complement each other.

Eamonn Feeney, managing director at MDL said: “MDL are thrilled to have reached this stage in the process for the opportunity to build and operate this new marina.

“We look forward to engaging fully with all stakeholders and are keen to work with everybody to make this project a success. As we continue to grow our business and expand our network we see this new marina in Poole as being a significant opportunity both for MDL and for the regeneration of Poole.”

The company says it will now work to address a number of matters by the end of the year before the preferred bidder is confirmed in January. An environmental impact assessment will have to be carried out and the final decision will be made by the Marine Management Organisation.

Jim Stewart, chief executive of PHC who has been talking to The Crown Estate about their proposals for four years and has carried out extensive public consultation, said it was “frustrating”.

“From our perspective, we went through this 18 month consultation process. We adapted the scheme in a fairly major way to take into account the views of the public and the views of Borough of Poole and Natural England,” said Mr Stewart.

“Our scheme has a huge number of public benefits,” he said. “I can’t comment on MDL’s scheme because we haven’t seen it.”

PHC forges ahead

THE PHC proposal, for which an environmental impact assessment is currently under way, includes a public walkway, viewing platform, area for marine events such as visiting tall ships, visitor centre, heritage display and free access for local charities and youth organisations and a port car park with water taxi.

Win or lose, PHC intends to forge ahead with the other part of the master plan, the redevelopment of a ro-ro berth into a deep water quay, and is pursuing providing a base for the offshore windfarm, should it go ahead.