The Crown Estate has reappointed Cooke & Arkwright’s Land Agency department as managing agents of its Coastal portfolio in Wales for a further five-year contract from 2020. The Crown Estate owns almost half the foreshore around England, Wales and Northern Ireland – the land between mean high and mean low water mark – and the seabed out to the territorial limit. This covers a substantial part of the Welsh coastline including ports, harbours, marinas and leisure boating.
Following successful completion of a rigorous tender process, the Land Agency team will continue to act as The Crown Estate’s local representative, managing its coastal interests in Wales, providing expertise in specialist areas and developing relationships with customers and other parties including environmental groups and regulatory bodies.
Gary Thompson, Asset Manager with The Crown Estate said, “We are confident that both Welsh firms we have appointed, Cooke & Arkwright assisted by Jones Peckover, will continue to contribute positively to the overall management of the Coastal Estate in Wales.”
Rhian Howells, Senior Surveyor with the Land Agency team said, “The work is extremely varied and interesting. As well as management of moorings, outfalls, jetties and other such foreshore interests, we facilitate seabed conservation programmes, and coordinate with Councils, Port Authorities, and a huge range of other coastal stakeholders and businesses. There is also an emerging Welsh aquaculture sector involving mussels, oysters and native seaweed, which we are involved in.
“Other projects include facilitating connectivity for windfarms and other renewable energy schemes; enabling the potential sale of unique coastal properties; and engaging with a series of regeneration projects.”
The Crown Estate is an independent commercial business, established by an Act of Parliament. Its portfolio ranges from managing the seabed and half the foreshore around England, Wales and Northern Ireland to destinations to work, shop and visit across the country. It returns all of its profit to the Treasury for the benefit of the nation’s finances. This has totalled £2.8bn over the last ten years.