New Ten-Year Strategy Approved For Scarborough, Whitby And Filey Harbours

North Yorkshire Council has approved a new ten-year strategy to revitalise and manage the harbours in Scarborough and Whitby, alongside Filey Coble Landing.

North Yorkshire Council's executive committee has approved a comprehensive ten-year strategy aimed at revitalising Scarborough Harbour, Whitby Harbour, and Filey Coble Landing.

The document provides a framework for the development and future direction of the coastal assets between 2026 and 2036. Following local government reorganisation in 2023, North Yorkshire Council became the statutory harbour authority. The new plan replaces former strategies prepared by the defunct Scarborough Borough Council, which had long expired.

According to a report presented to the executive, the strategy seeks to ensure the harbours remain safe, sustainable, and economically viable. It highlights significant challenges facing the coastal sites, including ageing infrastructure, a decline in the fishing industry, climate change, and funding gaps.

However, the report also identifies numerous opportunities for the Yorkshire Coast, such as the offshore wind supply chain, tourism, maritime training, and improved harbour facilities. Strategic actions outlined in the plan include infrastructure upgrades at the West Pier and Eskside Wharf, alongside new developments like the Whitby Maritime Hub and a boat lift.

Karl Battersby, Corporate Director for Environment at North Yorkshire Council, explained the scope of the new plan. He said:

"The strategy covers Scarborough harbour, Whitby harbour, and Filey Coble Landing.

It's a 10 year strategy because there are some quite big aspirations in here which will take some time to deliver particularly the capital elements of the proposal.

So, the strategy sets out a vision which essentially is to fulfill the full potential of our harbours for providing safe and sustainable facilities which celebrate their rich maritime heritage and embrace innovation and economic growth.

It's been subject to quite extensive consultation and we've been grateful for the comments that have been received and we've accommodated, I think the vast majority of those comments that have have been received."

The strategy was subject to a comprehensive public consultation earlier this year, which led to several updates. These included strengthening references to aquaculture, marine science, and the Whitby Lobster Hatchery, as well as adding a commitment to establish a working group to explore alternative arrangements for the Whitby Swing Bridge.

Mr Battersby added that the framework will help secure future funding. He said:

"What we've tried to do really is provide quite a broad strategy. It's not got detailed delivery timescales in here because it's a strategy rather than a delivery action plan. But a number of the items in here we are actively looking to deliver such as the West pier regeneration scheme.

We think it's good practice to have a clear strategy that will help us hopefully attract further investment into the harbours and provide local residents and the communities and harbour users a clear direction of what we're looking to achieve over the next 10 years in our harbours."

Scarborough Councillor Heather Philips praised the depth of the public consultation and the focus on adapting to future changes. She said:

"I really welcome the fact that they've gone to such depth in the consultation and everyone's had the chance to contribute to this consultation.

I'm glad that we've got a plan to make the harbours better because they are one of the great tourist things for Scarborough and we have to keep the industries going as best we can and diversify as we can because changing climate and the type of things that are going to be landed at Scarborough are going to change.

So, this hopefully will give us the agility to make the harbours work in the future, which is what we need. So I welcome the strategy and hope that we can see it progressing over the next 10 years."

Financially, the report notes that following a court judgement, separate ring-fenced reserves are now held for Whitby and Scarborough Harbours. All income and expenditure relating to activities on harbour land is ring-fenced within these accounts. In contrast, Filey Coble Landing is accounted for within the council's wider General Fund.

Scarborough Councillor Janet Jefferson highlighted the importance of these financial protections and the need for improved collaboration. She said:

"The harbour strategy recognizes the under investment within our harbours through the years and through Judge Sweeting's ruling on March 2025 acknowledges ring-fenced future revenues for both Scarborough and Whitby Harbour together with past revenues be retained within separate reserves of Scarborough and Whitby harbours which is very important.

The the strategy there highlights and does acknowledge the various groups and experience. It acknowledges also that we need to improve governance to work with both harbour users, stakeholders, and wider community, which is important."

The strategy also includes a commitment to undertake a governance review of alternative management models, with the findings to be presented to the executive for future consideration.

The full strategy can be found at https://edemocracy.northyorks.gov.uk/documents/s69275/Appendix%20A%20-%20NYC%20Harbours%20Strategy%202026-2036%20PROOF_3%20nl.pdf

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