Hungerford Marina: work due to start in 2018

Delays confirmed

BUILDING on the long-awaited Hungerford Marina project is unlikely to begin before 2018.

After years of false starts, a spokesman for developer Lakeland Leisure told Hungerford Town Council last year that work could start in 2016.

But that was optimistic, it transpires.

This week, a spokesman for Lakeland Leisure, Mark Morgan, said he anticipated that work could finally get underway by Easter 2018.

But he declined to give a timetable for completing the ambitious project.

A marina project was first awarded planning permission in 2004 following a 12-year battle with campaigners opposed to the development.

Then, the proposals included plans for a heritage museum and business units.

The current application dispenses with those, but represents a greater footprint, plus new homes.

The project could also provide an estimated five full-time jobs and “at least” 20 part-time positions in the proposed café and restaurant.

Mr Morgan said: “Starting work has predominantly been delayed because we bought land with (extant) planning permission, but then still had to take it through the whole planning process because we had modified the original project.

“We were only granted full permission just before last Christmas and it came with 23 conditions which have to be discharged.

“That will take time.

“We then have to cost the job and there are environmental issues to consider before we get started.”

He added: “We also have to get rid of a lot of soil from the basin.

“But obviously, as a company, we’re keen to get started. We remain fully committed to the project.”

Lakeland Leisure already runs three marinas – Great Haywood Marina in Staffordshire, Saul Junction Marina in the Cotswolds and Tattenhall Marina in Cheshire.