Mercia branches out

Mercia Marina has announced plans to develop a boutique retail and office complex named The Boardwalk, that has been submitted for planning permission.

Like other marinas, it is feeling the pinch as more and more unwanted marinas come on line against a falling demand for berths, but is not content to sit idly by, but to do something about it, hence its many ventures of third party operators on the site, including Midland Chandlers, all boosting this Trent & Mersey Canal marina.

Plans for The Boardwalk have been submitted to South Derbyshire District Council and will be considered over the next few weeks.

Further development

The £1.7m development announcement follows the approval last year of a £2m gastro pub, hotel and spa—The Lighthouse—as well as 18 luxury holiday lodges on the 74 acres marina site. The drawing shows the proposed combined development of The Lighthouse on the left  and The Boardwalk on the right.

Mercia Marina owners, Madecorn Leisure, will be seeking expressions of interest from independent businesses and retailers to occupy the seven ground-level shops and seven first floor offices which will make up The Boardwalk.

Ideal for businesses

The Boardwalk's architect, bi Design Architecture, of Repton, Derbyshire, has already shown an interest in opening new premises there. In terms of retail space, Madecorn Leisure believes The Boardwalk would be ideal for businesses such as craft shops, outdoor clothing stores and farm shops selling local produce. The development will occupy the peninsular in front of the zig-zagged embankment at the rear left.

Robert Neff, general manager of Mercia Marina, enthused:

"We are all pretty excited about The Boardwalk. It represents yet another fabulous development for the marina and surrounding area.

"This new planning application is essentially a proposal to increase tourism. Tourism is critical to the local economy, and The Boardwalk falls right in line with the tourism objectives of the council."

"It also helps to enhance the marina as a whole. We operate in a competitive environment; we are told there's a surplus of berths on the Trent & Mersey Canal and river network, so we always want to ensure we stay one step ahead."

Three-quarters full

While other inland marina enterprises in the UK are reportedly struggling, Mercia Marina is having no such problem in terms of attracting boaters and tourists alike. Despite it being the biggest inland marina in the UK, three-quarters of the 600 berths on this 74 acre site are already taken.