Agenda item - Seafront Development Board Prospectus

72.1    This item was presented by Cllr Taylor, Max Woodford, Director for Place, and Sam Smith, Head of Place Making. Cllr Taylor presented the slides and explained that the Seafront Development Board was established last year with 3 councillors as members (Cllrs Taylor, Miller and Cattell) and 9 other members who have experience in areas like leisure, retail, development, etc. The Board was set up to give a strategic vision for the seafront, treating it as one asset. Its areas of focus are infrastructure improvement, place making, zero carbon, and stakeholder engagement. There was a consultation event that sold out quickly with 100 people in attendance. The discussions there fed into the survey asking how people felt about the seafront, what they liked about it and what they would like to see improved. The Council and the Board will publish a shared strategic vision for the seafront looking at assets and attractions, which is genuinely exciting. They hope to attract funding over the next 2 -3 years. They are looking at specific sites and potential areas for development to get investors interested. They are looking at commercialisation or new activities for areas like Madeira Terrace to give visitors a reason to visit that section of the seafront. Black Rock is ready to be developed but, in the meantime, will be host to temporary events such as the NoFit State Circus and the fan zone for the World Cup. The King Alfred has a live planning application and is progressing. Pool Valley is being reimagined and they are looking at “station to the sea”, Queens Road that acts as the gateway to the seafront and is the first place visitors see. There are plans for active travel schemes. They are looking at the smaller things too including more cafes, places for children to play, more sports facilities and accessibility initiatives like the new boardwalk that allows wheelchair users to access the beach. The document sets out the ambition for the seafront to take to the government and other funders to generate excitement and money.

72.2    Cllr Earthey asked if the undercliff walk will feature in the plans as it needs some love, currently being covered in shingle which impedes pedestrians and cyclists. The path is currently cleared by volunteers but as it is a 3 mile pathway, it is a major contribution to active transport. Cllr Taylor spoke favourably about the undercliff walk and the entrance to Rottingdean. It is unlikely there will be big developments to the east but there are areas to be unlocked for cafes or sports. People are excited by big projects but maintenance is important, such as the seafront shelters and shingle clearance.

72.3    Cllr Mackey said that residents to the east of Palace Pier are on board with the development and asked how they will ameliorate while construction is going on to ensure older people and those with disabilities are not adversely affected. Cllr Taylor said the new lift on Madeira Terrace will be completed at the end of this year, and that the 2 entrances, one by the pier and the ramp by Dukes Mound will enable access and it is important to keep the parking spaces there. Cllr Cattell said there is a wheelchair user on the Seafront Development Board who provides insight into accessibility issues.

72.4    Cllr De Oliveira asked about democratic accountability for the Seafront Development Board as it is independent to Cabinet and how will they ensure the seafront is shaped by residents. Cllr Taylor said the Board cannot make Council decisions and is there to make recommendations to Council. The individual members are involved in different projects and are very experienced people. Any decision made by Cabinet can be called-in and are subject to member questions and deputations.

72.5    Michael Creedy (OPC) said that at both Brighton and Hove train stations, it is unclear how to get to the seafront and that he has seen people take a taxi there because they didn’t know it was within walking distance. It would be good to have a circular bus route that served both stations and went to areas like Black Rock to take visitors to other parts of the city rather than staying between the two piers. He asked about toilets provision if more events are going to happen and that the seafront plays a part in the bigger picture, which is the Sussex Bay Project and is a great financial benefit to Sussex, not just Brighton & Hove. Cllr Taylor said the bus idea was good and they will need to get the transport provision right once something more permanent has been set up at Black Rock. The front of Brighton station is the welcome to the city but at the moment it doesn’t look immaculate, and he would like to see a boulevard to the sea with more planting, footpaths and good signage. Toilets for events need to be provided and are included as part of the event planning process.

72.6    Cllr Meadows said she would like to advertise the survey to her ward residents but can’t find it on the website, and asked if the new attractions will be for wealthier residents or free. Cllr Taylor said the link to the survey had been emailed to all councillors and would welcome promotion of it. It is also on the Your Voice platform. The seafront will always be open and free for everyone and this is just looking at ways to commercialise through more shops, art galleries, attractions etc.

72.7    Cllr Shanks said Brighton beach is always so crowded and that visitors don’t realise they can go to other sections of the beach. She asked about Hove Beach Park and the trees that are now dead; that new things need to be maintained to continue to look as good as they did when they first opened. Padel is really well used and why isn’t the Council running it themselves? Cllr Taylor said the wrong type of trees were planted at Hove Beach Park and that lessons have been learned. There used to be lots of people working for councils maintaining the areas such as mowing lawns and pruning trees but there isn’t enough staff to do that now. The Council does get some income from the Padel Courts. They have recently hired a Commercial Director to bring in more new opportunities. Sam Smith added that capital budgets include maintenance costs.

72.8    Mark Strong said there was a concern in the Community Voluntary Sector that the people on the Board were chosen to be developer-lead rather than resident-lead. The consultation event was full and so, the CVS members could not attend; it would be good to have a long-term relationship with the Board for co-engagement and wider participation. He asked about the active travel corridor and whether it includes Marine Parade and whether a bus could run along the upper road linking to the marina. The marina has a lot of shops closing and is looking a bit desolate. Max Woodford said that the Council owns the freehold for the marina and that the leaseholder is on the Seafront Development Board. Cllr Taylor said it was not developer-lead and that they have all sorts of people on the Board: an award-winning gardener, rugby player, heritage expert, yoga business owner etc. The Board does a lot of engagement with local groups such as the Hove Civic Forum, schools and colleges and putting on events. They will look to do more and work with the Community Voluntary Sector. Cllr Miller said that the marina wants to work with the Council and are interested in the direction of travel for Black Rock; there are some interesting plans for it to become a very exciting part of the city.

72.9    Cllr Winder asked how we get from vision to reality in a reasonable timeframe and how will we identify funding limitations. They need to find a way to extend the use of the community along the coast and involve them in plans. The shape of the city might need to change and more resource might be needed for the seafront. Cllr Taylor said this gives a chance to be aspirational and that the prospectus sets out steps and individual opportunities to build investment. They need to think of the whole stretch of the seafront and how things lead into another. Considering the development of Black Rock, there is a big car park at the marina that is never full, the terraces could be used as a gateway to facilities at Black Rock, and these areas are not as well used and accessed; there is a real chance to unlock the space and make it available to communities. He suggested that area could have a more wellness and arts vibe.

72.10  Cllr Goddard said this was exciting and very positive, it is not only a visitor bonus but for residents as well. It is about having a holistic view of a major asset for future residents and about people having a connection to where they live. He agreed that there is no welcome at Brighton Station and looking at the “station to the sea” needs big thinking and he liked the boulevard concept.

72.11  Cllr De Oliveira said they need to be mindful that the commercial regeneration doesn’t deepen carbon emissions, flooding and coastal erosion and they need to consider climate resilience. Cllr Taylor said there will always be inherent tension between construction and climate resilience and a lot of this will form part of the planning application. As part of the local visitor economy, there is a benefit for residents to visit parts of the seafront they normally wouldn’t go to. This is also good for the environment as people stay local and use the train or walk to the seafront. Max Woodford said that it is difficult to invest in an area of flood risk and that Black Rock had the seawall heightened to prevent this.

72.12  Mark Strong said people in Whitehawk have their access to the sea blocked by the road and that other cities don’t have the same level of traffic as Brighton. He raised the issue of the information monoliths around the city that are out of date and covered in graffiti, and that wayfinding is unclear. Cllr Robins said that the seafront goes further west than people think and it includes the fully working port bringing wood over from other countries. People living in Portslade have the road and canal blocking access to the sea. Cllr Mackey said as soon as visitors get off the train there should be signs directing them to where they want to go, using the example of illuminated signs in Barcelona.

72.13  RESOLVED – that the report is noted.