Annan Harbour Redevelopment

The Strategy

The project presents a unique opportunity to create a visitor experience where heritage, industry and recreation are combined to create an active waterfront destination unique to the Solway Firth Area. The aim is to rejuvenate the area and provide new links to the Merse landscape that offer educational and recreational opportunities for local residents and visitors to the area.

A bespoke timber arrival ramp and seating structure will create a welcoming entrance sequence for the building as well as an enclosed gathering and performance space for local events. The existing hard landscape will be re-laid using locally sourced and reclaimed materials and street furniture will be sustainably sourced and manufactured from within the UK.

The Ministers Merse is the site of the former town dump and as a result contains areas of contaminated ground and well as invasive species. The landscape proposals aim to retain as much of the established planting as possible and integrate new species to improve and increase biodiversity. The design proposes to reduce receptor risk by introducing a raised walkway with educational signage to teach visitors about the contamination and risks associated. In addition, a clean cover layer will be employed for all new planting. All ground materials from the merse shall be retained and reused on site to any eliminate risk of contamination spread

The work has been carefully programmed to avoid key events in the ecological calendar such as nesting birds, fish spawning and bat roosting.  Watching briefs will be employed during construction to ensure habitats are safeguarded

Delivering recreational and active travel opportunities

One of the key design objectives for the site centres around the idea of retaining water within the harbour through the introduction of a dam and weir in order to create an attractive lagoon destination which is independent of tidal flux. The weir system which can manage water levels during both high and low tides allows for a water depth sufficient to accommodate boats in the lagoon, as well as the ability to slowly discharge the water back through the harbour to release sediment build up

The water will be held at a fixed level offering access for recreation and commercial activities. Pontoons and swimming structures will facilitate water sports such as canoeing, paddle boarding, kayaking , rowing and cold water swimming. The water channel will be formed with a clay liner and marginal and aquatic planting shelves will be introduced along the lagoon edge with planting that responds to the estuarine conditions.

The design fosters improved movement and attraction to the harbour site via a new connector bridge and public plaza area which overlooks the lagoon. Existing cycle and tourist routes are reinforced by the proposed bridge connection, which introduces a new river frontage route from the town centre to the harbour’s local amenities

Education and Wayfinding

The proposals will activate the site by encouraging both residents and visitors to engage with the water and explore the former landfill area. Wayfinding and interpretive elements will play a crucial role in guiding and educating users, promoting both safety and learning. Signage and wayfinding will be seamlessly integrated into the design, becoming an integral part of the boardwalk structures. HarrisonStevens are working  with Studio Arc to ensure the visitors experience of the landscape is optimised .

Boardwalk Design Development

The timber boardwalk across the Merse provides an opportunity to enhance the user experience, highlight the existing landscape assets of wildlife and views, while telling stories of the history and transformation of this landfill site.  Access is controlled through considered design of the boardwalk, the balustrading and the wayfinding signing.  The key moments of delight along the route are designed to retain attention and focus on the dynamic landscape and wildlife which occupy the tidal reaches of the river, the harbour and the merse landscape.  A bird hide looks out over the muddy reaches of the River Annan, a dipping pond offers a hands-on education opportunity, a view point to the west over the river captures a glimpse view across the landscape and the internal launching pods allow inclusive access to the new lagoon for small water craft. 

The boardwalk structure and materials have been designed to minimise disruption on the Merse.  From the delivery of the piles into the ground to the geometry of the timber decking it has been considered to be able to be built in as much in its own envelope as possible, avoiding heavy machinery beyond the construction limits of the structure.  The timber aligns with the projects objective to comply to the RIBA 2030 goals and specifications.  Sustainably sourced and as resilient as possible.  The detail of the decking is such that it will be a relatively easy task to replace the boards and not impact on their exacting layout, reducing the reliability of expert knowledge and skill to a minimum.

Minimise our impact on the existing environment while maximising the experience of the user, through careful and considerate detailing, use of resilient materials and providing opportunities for engagement with the environment through education and enhancing the unique sense of place in this one off dynamic estuarine landscape.  We are making a positive contribution through education, awareness and a heightened appreciation of nature and it’s processes.