Hastings Town Centre Public Realm and Green Connections project proposal has been given approval to proceed

Harold Place, Hastings 

East Sussex County Council (ESCC) and Hastings Borough Council (HBC) have been working on plans which include greener connections for walking and cycling and improvements to public spaces in Hastings Town Centre.

ESCC appointed design consultants, Arup, in 2023 to progress the concept design and consultation.  The design was presented during the public consultation which ran from January to March 2024. The outcomes of the consultation were published as a report and documents can be viewed here.

Following a review of the consultation outcomes and subsequent engagement with key stakeholders including Southern Water, Stagecoach, Homes England and local businesses, ESCC’s Lead Member for Transport and Environment, Cllr Dowling, has given approval to proceed to detailed design and construction.

This approval is based on the concept design which retains a 2-way carriageway on Havelock Road and Harold Place, for bus routes, taxis, cycling and planting while removing general traffic from the station to seafront corridor.

The design will include on-road cycle lanes. Details of the proposed restrictions will be subject to consultation through the Traffic Regulation Order process.

The next stage will be to progress to detailed design, working with the Hastings Garden Town Team to consider further opportunities for planting and sustainable urban drainage into the scheme.

Engagement with stakeholders will continue throughout the next stage of design, and the project will be showcased at the next Town Deal Open Day in Spring/Summer 2025.

The Lead Member’s report can be viewed here.

Notes:

In 2021 Hastings was one of 101 UK towns to receive a share of the Government’s Towns Fund to kickstart the regeneration of the town with funding of £24.3m. The Town Deal Board has allocated £10m of Town Deal money to support this project.