Businesses encouraged to talk to Port’s experts

BUSINESSES at Milford Dock are benefitting from modernised bespoke premises thanks to a collaborative approach by the Port of Milford Haven’s property division Quayside Estates, the Port Authority has said.
The company has worked closely with three businesses in particular over recent months to ensure the buildings they occupied were adapted to meet their specific needs, resulting in considerable commercial success.
Haven Fuels, part of the Certas Energy group; restaurant Halen Mor; and licensed coffee house and restaurant FOAM all required new premises and it was the team at Quayside Estates who set to work assessing their individual requirements and producing solutions for their diverse businesses.
Haven Fuels relocated from a porta cabin that they had worked from for 17 years to The Old Sail Loft – a listed building which demanded careful planning to create a suitable office environment. Dave Tully from Haven Fuels is pleased with their new premises commenting “This building is better for our customers as well as our staff, it’s more spacious and the conditions are far more comfortable to work in”.
Meanwhile at Milford Marina there has been close co-operation between one of Wales’ leading seafood chefs Adam Birch and Quayside Estates which led to the opening of Halen Mor- a hugely successful restaurant.
Estates Manager at the Port Clare Stowell believes food outlets like this are exactly what Milford Haven needs. “This is Wales’ biggest fishing port. One of the aims of our Master Plan is to showcase this fact to the wider public. We really wanted a restaurant capable of showing off the best of what is landed here and that is what Halen Mor is doing and we are proud to be working with them.”
In June, FOAM (Milford Haven) Limited opened its doors in a newly converted space in Barrallier House on the marina. With both the initial and ongoing support of the Quayside Estates team, significant internal and external renovations and improvements were undertaken.
The team at FOAM said “Due to a close and focused working relationship between the FOAM Management and Quayside Estates teams, all was achieved within the project timeline producing a real ‘gem’ for visitors to the marina, with particular attention and praise being commented on internal contemporary decor and the seaward terrace overlooking Milford Beach and the Haven Waterway.”
Estates Director Jeff Teague, who is leading the Milford Dock Master Plan, points to these success stories as proof that collaboration early on between potential customers and the Port can benefit everyone.
“Naturally, we have a wish list of the types of businesses we want to see here,” explains Jeff. “These are ones that complement the exciting plans we have for Milford Dock as laid out in the Master Plan. The marina is full of quality businesses and in time, subject to planning permission, there will be more and more opportunities for a wide range of retail and food outlets to base themselves in a bustling waterside location. We’d encourage anyone interested in joining us to achieve our vision to get in touch.”
The Port of Milford Haven submitted an outline planning application to Pembrokeshire County Council for its £70 million Master Plan in May 2014 and is hopeful that it will be approved at the planning committee meeting next month. The aim is to create additional quality leisure and entertainment attractions for residents and visitors to Pembrokeshire, and to provide first class facilities for the marine-leisure and fishing industries. For more information please contact Jeff Teague on 01646 696100 or email [email protected].