Proposals submitted for £1 million town investment

Hastings Town Deal Board have submitted proposals for four capital build projects to the government. They form part of an accelerated bidding process ahead of the main Town Deal programme under which up to £25m is on offer to boost regeneration in Hastings. Nick Terdre reports.

If approved, the four capital build projects submitted by Hastings Town Deal board will qualify for £1m offered to the town as part of an accelerated bidding round announced by the government in July. This addition to the Town Deal programme was prompted by the increased difficulties in achieving economic revival caused to towns like Hastings by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The four projects, which have to be put in place by next March, the end of the current financial year, are:

• Redevelopment of the remainder of the White Rock Baths, part of The Source Park, which has been derelict for decades. The funding will be used to refurbish and re-open units around the outdoor courtyard, transforming them into unique market-style retail and food outlets;
• An employment events and advice hub at East Sussex College group’s Station Plaza building. Part of the ground floor will be repurposed to offer a one-stop shop employment centre where Job Centre Plus, employers, careers advisors and employability organisations can all provide help to those needing a job or new skill, a conferencing/training facility and a tourism training hub for students.
• Installation of additional electric vehicle fast charge points in the seafront/town centre car parks, to allow opportunities for visitors with electric vehicles to travel more confidently to our town as well as contributing to ambitions in the council’s Climate Emergency Strategy.
• Creation of new retail, training and outdoor space at ‘Hastings Commons’ in the lower alley behind Claremont, continuing the ongoing improvements to the alley area and adding to facilities in the ever growing America Ground, Rock House and former Observer building quarter.

“These projects will bring investment to different areas of the town, including providing premises for small businesses, aiding recovery of the post COVID-19 economy, investing in low carbon infrastructure, while also providing new amenity and training spaces, all playing to the town’s strengths and driving the economy towards a more vibrant future,” said Graham Peters, the Town Board co-chair.

Cllr Kim Forward, leader of Hastings Borough Council, said, “These submitted proposals offer our town’s economy a huge boost, especially at a time when it has been impacted heavily by COVID-19. This funding will provide substantial support for our town’s future and provide development opportunities that will benefit businesses, residents and encourage visitors to our unique town.”

The government’s decision on the projects is expected to be communicated to the council by the end of September.

Investment plan

Meanwhile the board continues its work of building a Town Investment Plan to be submitted to the government by the end of January. Up to £25m is on offer to fund the plan and its constituent projects, as well as access to other national funding streams.

There has already been a healthy level of response from local organisations wishing to propose projects to be included in the plan – more than 40 have submitted expressions of interest through a form available on the council’s website.

See also Local groups propose new deal for West Marina

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