Hove Beach Park residents meeting - July 2024
We held a residents meeting on Tuesday 23 July 2024 to update local residents on the park's progress.
The event was an opportunity to meet the project team and ask questions about the park's development and how it will operate once open.
We recorded the responses to some of the questions raised for the benefit of those who could not attend. These were:
Was a Dark Skies or Lighting Impact Assessment undertaken as part of the design stage for the lighting scheme?
A Lighting Assessment was undertaken and submitted as part of the planning application. It used a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal undertaken for the scheme to:
- inform the design process
- record the ecological baseline
- identify key ecological features within and around the site
The type of lighting, and its location and positioning, has been developed to minimise light spill and glare. Warm white light will be used across the scheme to lower the range of affected species and reduce insect attraction.
There will be significant unlit spaces throughout the park.
These will act as a 'dark reserve' discouraging access after dark and strengthening the ecological value.
A Dark Skies Assessment was not undertaken as the site is not designated as a protected dark skies area.
What measures have been taken to ensure sports lighting does not negatively affect surrounding residents?
Sports lighting has been designed to manage the demands for lighting presented by sports facilities. It will only be operational when and where it's needed.
Illuminance models were made as part of the design process to ensure the scheme stayed within the appropriate parameters set out in the Institute of Lighting Professional’s Guidance on the Reduction of Obtrusive Light (the professional standard for lighting design).
The sports lighting luminaires come with anti-spill hoods to minimise lighting beyond the edge of sports areas. Columns will be no more than 8m in height. Lights in the Wheeled Sports Area will be activated by motion sensors, so that they are not operational when not in use. LED light sources with a low-UV content will be used throughout the park to minimise the impact of artificial lighting on people.
Sports lighting will comply with planning conditions – which permit lighting between 8am and 10pm. Street lighting in the park will function as per the Esplanade and the A259, from dusk to dawn.
Before making the lighting operational it will be tested to make sure it complies with the measures described above. We will publicise a schedule of testing times in advance.
Will the sports lighting have motion sensors?
Sports lighting in the Wheeled Sports Area will have motion sensors. The lights will operate a lower illuminance level when the facilities are not in use.
Sports lighting in the Tennis & Padel and the Sand Sports areas will not have motion sensors but will function according to bookings. The lights will only be operational when the facilities are in use.
What will be the process for a review of the lighting and any future questions which residents may have?
We are committed to making sports lighting operational in the Wheeled Sports Area from autumn 2024.
The Tennis & Padel and the Sand Sports areas will be managed by commercial tenants on long-term leases. Tenants will manage sports lighting in those areas as per planning conditions, which permit lighting between 8am and 10pm.
Before becoming fully operational, the lighting will be tested to make sure it is within permitted levels.
If you have any further questions about the lighting you can:
- send an email to hovebeachpark@brighton-hove.gov.uk
- contact us online
What provision is there for defibrillators in the park?
Currently we do not have funding to install defibrillators in the park. However, we have made space available for defibrillators to be fitted at three locations if funding becomes available. These are Hove Lagoon, the Tennis Pavilion and the Outdoor Sports Hub.
What are the rules regarding dogs within the park?
The park is a ‘dogs on lead’ space, which will be clearly indicated with signage. Our Environmental Enforcement Officers can enforce this under a Public Space Protection Order.
Will there be parity between the opening time of the public toilets and the facilities within the park?
Opening hours for the toilets will be consistent with those across the city. Summer times are 10am to 6pm and winter times are 10am to 4pm.
Will CityParks cut the grass within the playground once the area is reopened?
Once the playground is fully reopened CityParks will cut the grass as per their cutting schedule.
Are benches a risk alongside the roller area and pump track?
We have listened to the concerns raised by the roller community. The benches on either side of the roller area will be moved away from the area’s edge.
The bench near the pump track has been independently assessed and found to be a safe distance from the edge of the track.
Are we providing free wifi within the park?
We are not providing free wifi - it was not raised as a priority at the public engagement stage of the project. Wifi connectivity will be provided within the tenanted areas at the Outdoor Sports Hub and the Tenn.
Previous consultations
Public consultation, September 2021
In September 2021, we held a public consultation where residents and users of the seafront area between the King Alfred Leisure Centre and Hove Lagoon gave their views on what they would like to see.
Below is some of the feedback we received:
Q2a. Main reasons (top 5) for visiting/using WHSF
- 92% For health and fitness, eg, sports, play walks, etc
- 80% Social reasons, eg, meeting up with friends/family
- 76% For the public open spaces
- 67% Leisure facilities, eg, bars, cafés, restaurants, etc
- 58% Passing through on the way to the beach or Esplanade
- Other: Dog walking, rollerskating, beach hut user, for work
Q2d. Reasons people don’t/or infrequently visit WHSF
72% Think the spaces are not accessible/safe to use
Q3a. Most liked/enjoyed about WHSF
- 87% Proximity to beach
- 59% Existing green spaces
- 55% Leisure offer
- 43% Sports
- 24% Play facilities
Q3b. Main issues with the existing public realm/green spaces
- 56% Quality of the public realm and green spaces
- 35% Amount of space available for relaxation/activities/events
- 32% Quality and scope of existing sports offer
- 31% The existing offer of activities
- 23% Safety, security and anti-social behaviour
- Other: Accessibility, poor toilet facilities, inadequate maintenance, not enough planting/shade/shelter/seating, lighting
Q3c. Suggested improvements to the public realm and green spaces
- 63% More planting
- 63% Improved quality of green spaces
- 45% More shade, shelter and seating areas
- 44% Better quality and more choice of sports activities
- 41% More space for relaxation, events and activities
- Other: Better lighting and improved accessibility
Q4d. Ideas for further facilities at WHSF (top 5)
- 74% Improved public toilets
- 42% Sand courts for beach sports
- 39% Café, restaurant, bar, etc
- 35% Roller skating surface
- 30% Improved tennis courts
- Other: New sports club facilities, new skate park, padel tennis, artificial sports pitches, pump track
Ideas for encouraging people to spend more time at WHSF
- dedicated surface/area for rollerskating
- better skate park
- improved environment, eg, trees, planting, etc
- better range of cafés, etc
- improved provision for showers and toilets
- sand courts for beach sports
- improved tennis courts
- more places to sit
- provision of shade and shelter
- improved access
- better car parking
- more natural spaces
Brief development
Feedback from the last consultation event helped us establish the project brief. We'll continue to evolve and explore, through ongoing regular dialogue between:
- BHCC officers
- the project team
- local community organisations
- local councillors
- other stakeholders
The outcome to date of this collaborative effort is represented by the proposal's information on display today.
Key elements of the brief include:
- creating a Linear Park identity with areas of the garden for relaxation and leisure alongside active sports facilities
- a properly accessible route (wheelchair accessible) through the full length of the site linking all park spaces
- layering planting and trees to provide shade and shelter, mitigate climate change impacts, and increase biodiversity
- improving the type, distribution and quality of sports facilities and activities through the length of the site, including a new Outdoor Sports Hub building to support their use
- providing improved WCs and changing facilities
- improving comfort for users by providing seating, lighting, signage, etc
Summary objectives
- linear park identity
- accessible inclusive space for all
- strong biodiversity and ecology
- improved sports facilities
- leisure and active spaces
- safe and comfortable
We used the feedback from the consultation to inform the overall design of the area.
May 2022 drop-in session
Two drop-in sessions took place at the King Alfred Leisure Centre in May 2022. We invited the community to find out how plans for Kingsway to the Sea were progressing.
The events included details on the
- plans to-date
- project vision
- project timeline
The information was available on our website, with a survey asking for people’s views about Kingsway to the Sea.
More than 550 people attended the event.
More than 2,700 people gave their feedback on proposals through an online survey from 20 May to 10 June 2022.
Overall feedback was positive with 86% of respondents welcoming the opportunity to make improvements and 86% also in favour of the range of facilities proposed.
89% agree that the project will improve the seafront.
Comments captured in the survey are being analysed.
Who responded
Question 1: Are you responding on behalf of a young person aged under 18?
| Answer choices | Response percent | Response total |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 19.96% | 549 |
| No | 80.04% | 2,202 |
answered: 2,751
skipped: 11
Question 2. If you’re answering on behalf of a young person(s), what age are they? Please tick all that apply.
| Answer choices | Response percent | Response total |
|---|---|---|
| Under 5 | 7.43% | 39 |
| 5 to 8 | 19.62% | 103 |
| 9 to 12 | 26.86% | 141 |
| 13 to 16 | 44.95% | 236 |
| 17 to 18 | 11.43% | 60 |
| Prefer not to say | 3.43% | 18 |
answered: 525
skipped: 2,237
Question 3. Please let us know what age range you belong to.
| Answer choices | Response percent | Response total |
|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 2.91% | 64 |
| 18 to 24 | 14.32% | 315 |
| 25 to 34 | 20.68% | 455 |
| 35 to 44 | 22.64% | 498 |
| 45 to 54 | 23.36% | 514 |
| 55 to 64 | 9.32% | 205 |
| 65+ | 5.45% | 120 |
| Prefer not to say | 1.32% | 29 |
answered: 2,200
skipped: 562
Proposals
4. To what extent do you agree or disagree that the proposed park would provide an accessible and improved green space that provides for the needs of residents and visitors?
| Answer choices | Response percent | Response total |
|---|---|---|
| Strongly agree | 71.47% | 1964 |
| Tend to agree | 14.67% | 403 |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 3.64% | 100 |
| Tend to disagree | 3.35% | 92 |
| Strongly disagree | 5.42% | 149 |
| Don't know/ not sure | 1.46% | 40 |
answered: 2,748
skipped: 14
5. To what extent do you agree or disagree that the proposed outdoor sports facilities deliver a good range of sporting activities for residents and visitors?
| Answer choices | Response percent | Response total |
|---|---|---|
| Strongly agree | 72.25% | 1,984 |
| Tend to agree | 13.98% | 384 |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 3.46% | 95 |
| Tend to disagree | 4.33% | 119 |
| Strongly disagree | 5.06% | 139 |
| Don't know/ not sure | 0.91% | 25 |
answered: 2,746
skipped: 16
Facilities
6. Which facilities do you like most within the scheme Please tick all that apply.
| Answer choices | Response percent | Response total |
|---|---|---|
| Skate park | 69.76% | 1,917 |
| Pump track | 55.49% | 1,525 |
| Rollerblading area | 42.14% | 1,158 |
| Tennis | 29.29% | 805 |
| Padel tennis | 21.80% | 599 |
| Sand sports area | 30.93% | 850 |
| Croquet lawn | 12.88% | 354 |
| Bowls lawns | 14.08% | 387 |
| Sports hub building including bowls clubhouse | 14.52% | 399 |
| Green spaces | 52.29% | 1,437 |
| None of the above | 1.64% | 45 |
answered: 2,748
skipped: 14
West Hove seafront
7. To what extent do you agree or disagree the Kingsway to the Sea project will improve the West Hove Seafront?
| Answer choices | Response percent | Response total |
|---|---|---|
| Strongly agree | 78.77% | 2,163 |
| Tend to agree | 10.45% | 287 |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 3.35% | 92 |
| Tend to disagree | 2.48% | 68 |
| Strongly disagree | 3.93% | 108 |
| Don't know/ not sure | 1.02% | 28 |
answered: 2,746
skipped: 16
Planning application
After we submitted the planning application (reference number BH2022/02830) on 7 October, we held a consultation until 28 October 2022. Over 180 public comments were passed on to councillors considering the application, along with feedback from 22 consultees.
The Planning Committee approved our application on 7 December 2022.