The Kingsway to the Sea scheme to create a new park on Hove seafront is underway after being hit by significant rises in construction and material costs.
Work onsite had to be paused whilst plans are reviewed to fit the original budget.
The project will be completed in phases, with work on the outdoor sports hub starting first in autumn 2023.
Majority of facilities proposed to remain
Thankfully the majority of facilities proposed will remain in the scheme, including:
- Accessible and biodiverse green spaces across the park
- A new outdoor sports hub building with bowls clubhouse, public café and terrace, public toilets, changing rooms and a Changing Places facility
- Tennis and Padel tennis courts with a new pavilion
- Bowls and croquet lawns
- A skatepark, pump track and roller area
- Refurbished toilets at Hove Lagoon.
Cost constraints mean that difficult decisions are being made to omit some parts of the original scheme.
Feedback from residents and the West Hove Seafront Action Group about which facilities are most important to them are being listened to and work will be undertaken to add facilities should funding become available, in a further phase of work.
This project has always been about what the community wants to see
Councillor Alan Robins, chair of the Culture, Heritage, Sport, Tourism & Economic Development committee said: “Rising construction costs and the current national shortages of materials and labour have resulted in unprecedented cost inflation and a funding gap we simply can’t meet.
“We’ve had to make some tough choices and reduce the scope of the original plan.
“This project has always been about what the community wants to see in the space, and we’ll continue to work closely with residents to deliver as much as we can.
“It is still going to be an amazing new park and I’d like to thank everyone who has taken the time to share their feedback and get involved – especially the West Hove Seafront Action Group - for their continued support”.
