Port Marine

Port Marine represents a classic maritime precinct planning challenge: the need to preserve a palpable industrial heritage while creating a viable, high-quality urban quarter. The site is a dense cluster of Grade II listed warehouses and maritime buildings, and the overriding planning principle must be one of sensitive adaptive reuse rather than demolition. The goal is to retain the robust, expressive architecture of the historic stock while inserting new residential and commercial units within the existing shells.

Heritage and Adaptive Reuse

The listed buildings provide the primary character of the site, and the planning strategy protects this as the anchor of the regeneration. Rather than rebuilding, the approach uses the "shell and core" model: the historic facades and structural frames are preserved, with new internal layouts inserted where possible. This avoids the loss of fabric while delivering the density required for a successful mixed-use quarter. The planning documents emphasize that any interventions must be reversible and visually subordinate to the original architecture, using a palette of materials that complements the brick and timber textures.

Key heritage considerations:

  • Facade retention for all listed structures
  • Reversible internal modifications
  • Restoration of original fenestration patterns
  • Minimizing the impact of new services on historic fabric

Public Realm and Pedestrianization

The circulation strategy marks a significant shift from the site’s industrial past: the removal of heavy vehicle access in favor of a pedestrian-first public realm. The plan creates a legible, permeable pedestrian network that links the precinct to the wider city and the waterfront. This is not just about paving; it is about creating a high-quality public space with distinct zones:

  • A sheltered public square for seasonal activity
  • A promenade along the waterfront
  • Seating, lighting, and wayfinding that reinforces the maritime theme

Paving is designed with durability in mind—hardwearing materials that can handle high footfall while still offering a high-quality tactile experience. The removal of vehicles also reduces noise and pollution, making the site a more attractive residential and leisure destination.

Waterfront Connectivity and Blue Infrastructure

The waterfront is the precinct’s most valuable asset, and the planning documents prioritize a seamless transition between the built forms and the water. The promenade acts as a public spine that encourages people to walk the edge of the precinct. From a blue infrastructure perspective, the plan incorporates the water as a visual and ecological feature, with planting and seating designed to maximize views across the basin.

The site also requires robust sustainable drainage (SuDS) because of the hardstand-heavy nature of the precinct. The plan uses a hierarchy of measures:

  • Permeable paving on pedestrian routes
  • Tree pits with integrated drainage
  • Blue roofs and rainwater harvesting on new roofs
  • A central detention basin that also serves as a public feature

Mixed-Use Strategy and Implementation

The masterplan balances residential, leisure, and commercial uses. Ground floors of the warehouses are given to retail and cafe units, creating an active frontage that animates the public realm. Upper floors are dedicated to residential units, which are clustered to allow for a coherent housing delivery while maintaining the mixed-use character.

Implementation is phased, starting with the public realm spine to establish the site’s new identity early on. Heritage liaison officers are required throughout the construction phase to oversee the sensitive works on the listed buildings. The plan is a coherent whole, where the heritage, the pedestrianization, and the blue infrastructure all work together to transform a decommissioned industrial site into a vibrant, resilient urban quarter.

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