Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge Regeneration

Burnham-On-Sea.com examines how our towns may look in the future under proposals being investigated by the Market and Coastal Towns Initiative...

Urban and rural regeneration is at the heart of the Government’s agenda to revitalise towns and cities across the country.

Places should become more attractive in order to retain and create jobs, promote greater social inclusion and restore a sense of Civic Pride.

To achieve this, the South West of England Regional Development Agency established the Market and Coastal Towns Initiative (MCTI) to help local people regenerate their communities.

Under the MCTI a partnership consisting of local people, Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge Town Council and Sedgemoor District Council commissioned Landscape Design Associates to prepare a masterplan for Burnham and links to Highbridge. Its findings are shown over the next few pages of this site.

Making the Most of Burnham’s Potential:

Burnham-On-Sea needs to reinvent itself and capitalise upon its unique qualities, according to findings from the Market and Coastal Towns Initiative. The town is well placed to serve the hinterland with the benefit of a wonderful coastal setting.

It has a unique history, character and identity which reflects how it has evolved first as an agricultural town for the farmers who drained the land to the east; later as a spa town and finally as a seaside 'resort'. The aim of the Market and Coastal Towns Initiative is to establish a framework that will:

Establish Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge as a wonderful place to live;
With its local identity strongly expressed building on its existing economy, environment and community;
With a strongly defined heart that is recognised as such by the community;
But sufficiently special to be able to attract people and encourage them to stay;
With civic pride expressed in its streets and spaces.

Findings of the Consultation Phase:

Future plans for Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge can only be successful if they are shaped by the people who live and work in the towns. Before the project started the Market and Coastal Towns Initiative asked people what they would like to see happen in Burnham. A workshop was held to identify common goals and aspirations. The images and words which were produced helped the Market and Coastal Towns Initiative understand peoples’ aspirations for Burnham-On-Sea.

Several other meetings and consultations with local people, businesses and authorities helped develop the masterplan. The consultation process revealed that there is an understanding that Burnham needs to build on its strengths and address its weaknesses.

The key findings were:

Burnham has wonderful surroundings
There are beautiful views and sunsets
The town lacks a heart
There is too much concrete and tarmac
There is a lack of attractions, especially for young people

All images copyright of Landscape Design Associates.