Boat Lift Proposal Could Generate £1.4m Annually, Harbour Meeting Hears

A proposed boat hoist and marina expansion project at Scarborough Harbour could generate £1.4 million annually and create hundreds of additional berths for the local economy.

The planned boat hoist project in Scarborough could generate £1.4 million a year for the local economy, a local group has said.

Robin Gray, chairman of the Scarborough Harbour Advisory Board, has said that a long-discussed boat lift and marina expansion project in the town could generate more than £1.4 million annually and help create hundreds of additional berths.

The claim emerged during a recent meeting of the Scarborough Harbour Users Group, where members discussed future development plans and North Yorkshire Council’s wider harbour strategy.

Mr Gray told attendees he had developed a Green Book-standard business case setting out the potential economic benefits of a boat lift and associated marine facilities.

Speaking at the meeting, he said the proposals could generate more than £1.4 million a year through a combination of berthing income and supporting businesses such as engineering and chandlery services. The document also reportedly suggests the harbour could accommodate about 240 berths in the outer harbour.

The proposals form part of wider discussions around the long-term “Blue Sky” vision for Scarborough Harbour, which council officers confirmed has now been incorporated into North Yorkshire Council’s adopted Harbours Strategy.

Chris Bourne, North Yorkshire Council’s head of harbours, said a £200,000 funding bid had been submitted to the Government’s Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund to support a feasibility study into the wider harbour expansion proposals.

He said the study would be used to establish accurate costs and benefits for any development.

At the meeting, attendees also expressed frustration “regarding the slow pace of progress and perceived wasted money on consultations without tangible outcomes”.

Concerns were raised that the council might be less willing to invest if external grants are not secured, particularly following issues with ring-fenced harbour funds.

However, Mr Bourne disagreed, stating that securing funds has been easier since the ringfencing issue was identified, with “more money spent on harbours in the last three years than in the previous decade”.

This summer, council bosses approved a 10-year strategy to capitalise on both new and traditional industries at Scarborough Harbour, Whitby Harbour, and Filey’s Coble Landing as part of a wider masterplan developed by the authority.

Among the opportunities highlighted in the harbour strategy is the opportunity to build on the offshore wind industry.

The Government has said that the UK is the second largest offshore wind market in the world. Major wind farms are located off the Yorkshire coast, including at Dogger Bank, and the county’s coastal towns have the potential to help support the industry.

Challenges faced by the harbours include ageing infrastructure, a decline of the fishing industry, climate change, and funding gaps, while opportunities include the offshore wind supply chain, tourism, maritime training, and improved harbour facilities.

The harbours in Scarborough, Whitby, and Filey have faced a period of decline due to structural issues, a lack of investment and strategy, environmental challenges, and the decline of the fishing industry, the council said.

The aim of the strategy is for harbours to be resilient to future challenges, open and welcoming by offering accessible and engaging spaces for users, residents, visitors and businesses.

Whitby’s £11 million Maritime Hub has nearly been completed and the council recently set out its updated proposals for the controversial £15m redevelopment of Scarborough’s West Pier.

The council’s executive member for open to business, Cllr Mark Crane, previously said:

“The harbour strategy will secure the future of our harbours through investment, innovation, and collaboration.

“While celebrating their rich maritime heritage, we will ensure that our harbours remain cherished and dynamic destinations for generations to come.

“We have listened to responses to the public consultation and taken the draft plans to committees, sharing with ward members, town councils, and harbour user groups to gather a breadth of expertise.”