Funding boost for Seaton Jurassic

Seaton Jurassic, the new exciting visitor attraction for East Devon, received a massive boost today (7 March) with the award of a Coastal Communities Fund (CCF) grant of over £300,000.

This is a huge step towards starting the Centre build in June. Seaton Jurassic will tell the uniquely powerful story of the geology and ecology of the Jurassic Coast, England’s first Natural World Heritage Site. The Centre will be built on The Underfleet in the middle of Seaton, a two minute walk from the seafront, adjacent to the new Tesco and the Seaton Tramway terminus, and will contribute to the regeneration of the town by attracting thousands more visitors. Seaton Jurassic will be highly engaging and interactive and aims to immerse the visitor with its interpretation of the area’s natural and marine heritage.

Councillor Ian Thomas, Cabinet Member for Economy at East Devon District Council, said: “This is fantastic news for the project, for Seaton and for the region. Seaton Jurassic will create new jobs for the town, both directly and indirectly through the massive boost to the visitor economy. I am looking forward now to the building of this iconic centre that will transform the town and increase awareness of our amazing coastline and wetlands. I’d like to congratulate and thank the team who put together this excellent bid and are continuing to work on behalf of the Axe Estuary in attracting further investment to the area.”

Harry Barton, Chief Executive of Devon Wildlife Trust, which has been appointed to manage the Centre and has played a key role in developing the plans, also welcomed the CCF grant, “I am thrilled that we have been successful in securing this grant. Devon has some of the best natural heritage in the world. It is incredibly important to all of us, but it is little known and under a great deal of pressure. Seaton Jurassic will help bring East Devon’s amazing heritage to light, so that we can all enjoy it and value it.”

The project has now secured over £3million of funding including £1.9 million from East Devon District Council and further contributions from Devon County Council and Seaton Town Council. A first stage application to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) was also successful with the outcome of a second stage application to HLF expected later this year. Planning consent for the building was approved in June 2013. The Centre is expected to open late 2015. A formal launch is expected to take place early in 2016.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Rt Hon Danny Alexander announced the successful projects across the country, and said: “The Coastal Communities Fund allows us to help communities across the UK to rebuild and regenerate their local economy, with projects this year supporting nearly 4000 jobs and 1000 training places.

“This is even more important given the extreme weather and I’m very pleased we’re giving £17 million of the fund to projects in areas hit by floods. Additionally, we have invested £5 million from the fund’s reserve into the government’s programme for flood recovery.

“The Coastal Communities Fund is supporting some of the most fragile communities. It is a great way to make sure that people living around our coastline can share in the benefits of the increased returns for the Crown Estate’s marine activities.”

The local community in Seaton is key to the success of Seaton Jurassic and local people will be invited to become involved as volunteers and ambassadors of the centre as the project progresses.

Seaton Jurassic is part of a wider programme of regeneration projects that EDDC has been working on in Seaton that include the expansion of the Axe Estuary Wetlands, a nature reserve operated by the council, the development of the new Tesco store and the redevelopment of a town centre site for new housing. Seaton Jurassic will act as a catalyst to help revitalise the town centre retail offer and to bring forward other redevelopment opportunities.

The development of Seaton Jurassic can be followed via the website: www.eastdevon.gov.uk/seatonjurassic, twitter: @SeatonJurassic and on facebook.