Have your say on the future of the historic Stanmer estate
Give us your views on the future of the historic Stanmer Estate.
That's the message to local residents, users of Stanmer Park and other interested parties from Brighton & Hove City Council and the South Downs National Park Authority.
The council is drawing up a long term masterplan to protect and enhance the estate, which is both a much loved public park and a nationally significant Grade II landscape, which is on the “Heritage at Risk” register. It also forms the setting for the Grade I listed Stanmer House, Grade II* Stable Block and 16 Grade II listed buildings, many within the village.
People's views on Stanmer Park and Stanmer Village are wanted to help shape the masterplan, which will aim to restore and protect the estate's historic buildings and landscape, enhance its natural features, make it more accessible and address any other issues.
Public consultation is being carried out to give everyone interested a chance to have their say and runs until July 14.
People can give their views via the council's website www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/stanmerproject
or by emailing or calling for a consultation pack: email parksprojects@brighton-hove.gov.uk or call 01273 292929. In addition, staff and volunteers will be out and about on the Stanmer Estate with questionnaires.
The masterplan will include proposals for bringing empty farm buildings and vacant plots in Stanmer Village back into use and identify opportunities to bid for external funding from organisations such as the Heritage Lottery Fund
The council is leading the Stanmer Estate Restoration project, working in partnership with the South Downs National Park Authority and other partners to develop the masterplan including the Food Partnership, Stanmer Preservation Society and Stanmer Stakeholders Group
Head of City Infrastructure Gillian Marston said: "The Stanmer estate is one of the jewels in the city's crown in a fantastic location in the South Downs National Park and we want to ensure we protect and enhance it so that future generations can continue to enjoy it
"This is the starting point to get people's views and ideas so that we can begin to explore options for the future. We hope the local community, residents from across the city, visitors and anyone with an interest in the Stanmer Estate will take the chance to get involved in the project, have their say, and help shape the masterplan.
"Once we have feedback from this stage of consultation, proposals for a masterplan will be developed and people will have another opportunity to comment later in the year."
The Stanmer Estate includes beautiful woodland walks and extensive open parkland, which provide an important facility for residents across the city and visitors, with many using it for walking, enjoying nature, sports and other leisure activities, and as a gateway to the wider South Downs National Park.
Stanmer Estate is also a working landscape, with farming, grazing and food growing taking place on its land and it is home to many residents in Stanmer Village and cottages around the estate.
For more information www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/stanmerproject
Notes for editors
1 The “Heritage At Risk” register is published annually by English Heritage to focus attention on important heritage whose condition needs to be improved - see http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/caring/heritage-at-risk/