2021
October 2021
Vegetation is cleared from areas of the Princes Parade development site following a successful phase of reptile capturing.
Work to safely and sensitively relocate slow worms, common lizards and grass snakes from the former municipal waste tip to suitable habitat within the Royal Military Canal corridor began in August 2021.
Following completion, some vegetation had to be cleared to ensure all reptiles have been found and that those already relocated do not return to what is now a site becoming ready for construction.
With the scheme progressing at a good pace, Heras fencing now needs to be placed on the site's boundaries to ensure the area is secure and keeps the public safe and away from what will soon be a construction site.
Access will remain through the site via the central path bisecting the site and along the path to the western edge of the boundary with the golf course.
September 2021
Natural England granted a licence for us to carry out badger relocation works at Princes Parade in September 2021.
The process - which includes various sympathetic measures - is allowed to take place between 7 September 2021 and 30 November 2021 inclusive.
All activity will be carried out in accordance with the agreed method statement submitted to Natural England as part of our application.
The relocation work will be led by ecological experts and Natural England will be given access to monitor progress. Work to construct the new badger sett also starts following the approval of a planning application by the local planning authority in August 2021.
August 2021
The process of finding a suitable and experienced operator to run the new leisure centre at Princes Parade - once construction work is completed - was launched in August 2021.
The expression of interest window closes on 22 October 2021. Bids will then be thoroughly assessed and tested before a final decision is made by cabinet.
Initially the contract will run for a period of 10 years, which could be extended by a period or periods of up to a maximum of five additional years at the discretion of the council.
Work to safely relocate reptiles from Princes Parade to a suitable habitat within the Royal Military Canal corridor in Hythe is to starts.
Fencing is fitted along the western, northern and eastern boundaries of the existing habitat areas to sensitively trap reptiles that inhabit the site.
Once captured by suitably experienced ecologists, they will then be taken to the nearby suitable land. All of the work will be in line with the appropriate guidelines and overseen by experts.
Residents are asked not to enter the site as this may inadvertently have a negative impact on the project's determination to safeguard the local reptile and animal population.
A public inquiry is called by the Secretary of State for Transport regarding the stopping up order. The council fully expected this announcement due to responses submitted by two of the statutory consultees. You can find out more about the hearing here.
It is our belief that the proposal will create a fantastic traffic-free promenade that can be enjoyed by all, as well as help improve road safety along our coastline. This case will be made at the hearing in October.
May 2021
A statutory consultation on plans to stop up the road at Princes Parade ended on 7 June 2018 - this is separate from the planning application for the project.
Having carefully considered the responses received, we wrote to objectors in May 2021 asking if they would like to withdraw their comments as the council feels the issues raised have been satisfactorily addressed.
You can read our full responses in the Stopping up report (PDF,956.63KB)
Any outstanding representations after 28 days will be submitted to the Secretary of State for Transport's office for determination.
As the statutory consultation phase of this process has been completed, no further comments can be accepted at this stage. This work relates only to plans to stop up the road - others aspects of the project cannot be considered.
March 2021
Preparatory work for the Princes Parade development continues as exploratory site investigations work begins.
A technical note from BAM Construction and an ecology note from Lloyd Bore, both relating to this work, can be read below.
View the Exploratory site investigations works technical note (PDF,109.96KB)
View the Exploratory site investigations works ecology note (PDF,776.35KB)
March 2021
Ecological works begin along the northern bank of the Royal Military Canal to establish grasslands to benefit reptiles, bats and birds.
To combat misinformation, the ecologist's technical note in relation to this work has been made public.
Read the ecologist's technical note (PDF,149.89KB)
February 2021
Princes Parade scheme moves step closer to reality as BAM Construction are appointed to deliver a new leisure centre, promenade and infrastructure works to facilitate this and the residential developments at Princes Parade.
Daniel Brenchley, construction manager at BAM Construct, explains: