Town Centre Public Realm and Green Connections
Urban Regeneration, Planning & Land Use; Local Transport
Project Description
The project will transform Hastings town centre, complementing its built heritage with multifunctional spaces that will encourage dwell time and promote wellbeing, through the widespread application of beautiful, ecologically rich and biodiverse horticulture that is cost-effective and simple to maintain. The Hastings Garden Town vision, inspired by Great Dixter’s world-famous philosophy of creative ecology, combines horticultural innovation, biodiverse creativity to transform the public realm as an exemplary project in the region.
The project sets out early ideas to improve public spaces in our town centre and make the area more green, attractive, healthy and fun.
The proposal includes infrastructure for improved walking and cycling throughout the town, cycle parklets, general enhanced public realm, infrastructure for markets, events and festivals and an interwoven lighting and public art project. The objective being to increase dwell time, visitor numbers, generating higher spend and attracting new investment.
East Sussex County Council has now appointed design consultants, Arup to take forward the plan and work with key partners to design and manage the green spaces, employing nature-based solutions to contribute to the town’s resilience to current and future environmental challenges by cooling, draining, cleaning and greening the town.
Project Justification
The Towns Fund provides a unique opportunity for the public investment needed to create a step-change in the quality and accessibility of the public realm. Research and experience show it pays dividends in terms of increased economic activity and inward investment in the town. 75% of visitors to Hastings, who visit the seafront by-pass the town centre in favour of the Old Town and Stade area as there is little to pull them across the road into the town centre. County Council budgets only support ongoing maintenance for existing public realm.
❝ Improve the town centre through, trees, plants and flowers, bringing the natural environment into the town centre.
— Hastings Youth Council Member
To introduce a transformational programme such as this requires external investment. The town has many green spaces, but by contrast, the town centre has very little greenery and is dominated by hard, impervious surfaces. This project will change this and connect the town centre to surrounding green spaces, the seafront and other key gateway points to the centre. With a renewed public realm feel and confidence, private and other public and social investment will follow to the centre.
Project Justification
The Towns Fund provides a unique opportunity for the public investment needed to create a step-change in the quality and accessibility of the public realm. Research and experience show it pays dividends in terms of increased economic activity and inward investment in the town. 75% of visitors to Hastings, who visit the seafront by-pass the town centre in favour of the Old Town and Stade area as there is little to pull them across the road into the town centre. County Council budgets only support ongoing maintenance for existing public realm.
❝ Improve the town centre through, trees, plants and flowers, bringing the natural environment into the town centre.
— Hastings Youth Council Member
To introduce a transformational programme such as this requires external investment. The town has many green spaces, but by contrast, the town centre has very little greenery and is dominated by hard, impervious surfaces. This project will change this and connect the town centre to surrounding green spaces, the seafront and other key gateway points to the centre. With a renewed public realm feel and confidence, private and other public and social investment will follow to the centre.
Outputs & Outcomes
Delivery of new public spaces
Upgraded historic parks, gardens and townscape
New or upgraded cycle or walking paths.
Key Milestones
Business Case development through 2021
Delivery start: 2022
Business case approval for additional funding:
May 2023
Public consultation: 22nd January - 1st March 2024
Planning application to be submitted: Summer 2024
Construction starts: 2025
Project completion: 2026
Project Delivery
Taking a collaborative, landscape-led approach, working with the Highways Team at East Sussex County Council, the project will inspire and engage local people, businesses and third sector organisations across the town. East Sussex Council, Hastings Borough Council and the Hastings Garden Town Team are working on plans which include greener connections for walking and cycling through the town and improvements to public space. Design consultants, Arup, have now been appointed to take forward the plan and work with key partners to design and manage the green spaces, employing nature-based solutions to contribute to the town’s resilience to current and future environmental challenges by cooling, draining, cleaning and greening the town.
The public consultation is now closed and all responses and feedback is being reviewed by the project team to help refine scheme. Next steps include the planning application being submitted in the Summer 2024.
The public consultation launched on Monday, 22 January closes at 11.59pm on Friday, 1 March.
Members of the public can view proposals, download a copy of the full brochure and give their views via the East Sussex Consultation Hub. There are also four public events and dates are listed here too:
Where to get a printed copy of the consultation brochure
The printed brochures also include a paper copy of the survey and a freepost envelope. Members of the public can pick up a copy at these locations during the consultation period:
Hastings Library, Brassey Institute, 13 Claremont, TN34 1HE
Summerfields Leisure Centre, Bohemia Rd, TN34 1ET
Muriel Matters House, Breeds Place, TN34 3UY
Common Room, Eagle House, 27-29 Cambridge Road, TN34 1DJ
Costs & Funding
| Total Funding | £10,154,458 |
| Town Fund | £9,754,458 |
| Other Funding | £400,000 |