On Scarborough's waterfront an integrated urban design strategy running from North to South bay will link a string of renaissance assets. The base of the urban design strategy is a network of new public spaces that will link the 'String of Pearls'.
The public space plan will improve the accessibility of the waterfront, stimulate the movement along the water and create an attractive environment for both visitors and residents.

A "STRING OF PEARLS"

Holbeck slip
The site will be transformed into the southern anchor of Scarborough's waterfront. Redesigning Holbeck slip opens the opportunity to connect the southern neighbourhoods of Scarborough with the sea. Through a process of community consultation and workshops the future appearance of Holbeck slip will take shape.

The South Bay Pool
Yorkshire Forward and Scarborough Borough Council are working on an enhanced design for the surface treatment of the pool, following infilling in the summer of 2003. The next stage in the reestablishment of the South Bay Pool as an attraction and destination is the transformation of the pool into an icon on Scarborough's coastline; proposals for a sculpture garden for iconic public art are due to be delivered by the end of 2003.

The Spa
This is the centerpiece of the "String of Pearls", attracting large groups of visitors. A condition survey will be carried out together with a feasibility study. The spa study will determine the state of the building and create an architect's brief based on the needs of the future conference / arts / entertainment market.

Cultural Valley and Aquarium Top
The urban design strategy proposes a redesign of this area in conjunction with the Valley and the Cresent as a major entrance to the seaside.
The focus for the Cresent will be on enhancing the critical mass of cultural attractions and museums. The existing underground carpark needs improvement to serve visitors and hotels.

Grand Hotel Terrace
The Town Team has indicated the need to bring this Sea-front Eyesore site into use. Geotechnical problems need rectification before it can be marketed. The hotel has been interested in a pool / leisure development on the site.

The Futurist
The redevelopment of the Futurist site offers the opportunity for a mixed-use scheme addressing St Nicholas gardens, King Street, Blands Cliff and Foreshore Road, creating a new urban quarter.

Foreshore facades
The monoculture together with the poor quality of facades has been identified as a key barrier to changing the image of Scarborough. Improvements are needed to change the image of Scarborough and have to be made in conjunction with property owners.

The second waterfront
The medieval town under the Castle is diconnected, unknown, and under-used.
It is a hidden town with a large potential. It has been identified to become Scarborough's second waterfront; with new 'harbour-view' houses, small businesses, restaurants, boutiques, cafes and bars on small squares. To start its tranformation the urban tissue, the streets and alleyways that connect the medieval town with the waterfront and the town centre, need to be redesigned. A new town square, half way between the station and the harbour, will form the moment to start exploring the medieval town. Scarborough's new urban tissue holds many development opportunities.

The Harbour
Repaving Sandside to create the pedestrian priority envisaged by the Town Team will open up the West Pier for redevelopment with a new RNLI building and cafe culture area within the old fish shed.

Blooming Belvederes
The planting of the cliff tops is a major part of the Public Space Framework. The Blooming Belvederes will create a foreground to the sea.

Peasholm Valley
The way Peasholm Valley ends on the beach needs improvement. A landscape design in close relation to the North Bay Project should focus on reinstating the valley as a botanical park touching the beach.

North bay project
This is a seaside center parcs; a brown field development which will reposition Scarborough in the tourism market, creating a new critical mass of staying visitors linked to the South Bay. The North Bay Project and the Spa / South Bay Pool will provide the two anchors to the "String of Pearls".