The council continues to work with residents and other key stakeholders to develop plans for the rejuvenation of the public realm on Hove seafront between King Alfred and Hove Lagoon.
In developing proposals, we have also taken into consideration the history and constraints of the area.
The Kingsway to the Sea site runs from west of the King Alfred Leisure Centre to and including Hove Lagoon. The boundaries of the site include the wall to the south and north. The esplanade, chalets in the south and the cycle lane to the north are excluded.
Project scope
Kingsway To The Sea is a project that is being developed by Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC) with local community organisations to regenerate what are considered to be run-down and under-used spaces on the seafront in West Hove.
Trends in sports participation have changed, leading to a reduction in the use of some of the existing facilities here.
The scheme will enhance the green spaces and provide improved contemporary leisure and sporting facilities which are relevant to the needs and aspirations of residents and visitors today.
The project will transform this highly visible and substantial publicly owned community asset and provide facilities in line with current and future expectations.
The scheme will:
- remodel the land between Hove Lagoon and the King Alfred Leisure Centre
- improve the biodiversity and attractiveness of the green spaces
- rejuvenate the public realm
Project history and current priorities
The project has been evolving since 2018 through the work of local community organisations, particularly West Hove Seafront Action Group and West Hove Forum, in partnership with Brighton & Hove City Council, to help identify and address current issues of under-use and reduced environmental quality.
In the spring of 2021, Brighton & Hove City Council appointed landscape architects to help develop initial proposals for West Hove Seafront, which formed part of their successful match-funded bid to the Government for project funding from its Levelling Up Fund (LUF), which was awarded in autumn 2021.
Prior to that in summer 2021 the project team ran an on-site consultation beside the Hove and Kingsway Bowling Club, and today we’re following this up with a further engagement to share progress since then and the LUF award.
The Levelling Up Fund has a prescriptive timescale, so the project team is now communicating with the Levelling Up Fund to request an extension to the completion date.
Consultation Summary
At the last consultation event, we asked for your thoughts and ideas about the existing spaces and what you would like to see in the future.
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
