Hastings West Hill Café and Castle project partner Troika Projects is formally appointed and plans for the first engagement event dates are announced

Graham Peters, Chair of Hastings Town Deal Board, Troika Projects and Cllr Julia Hilton, Leader of Hastings Borough Council

Hastings Borough Council’s project partner organisation, Troika Projects, is now formally appointed to deliver the Hastings West Hill Café and Castle Project. Troika Projects recently signed the official Grant Funding Agreement with the council, with plans underway to revitalise the café, including an interpretation centre for the castle.

Troika Projects, who are a local consortium based in Hastings, will be showcasing their plans with two public engagement events next month, including a drop-in session for residents of the West Hill at the Community Centre on Thursday, 6 March 6.30 – 8.30pm and a public drop-in session at the Stade Hall on Saturday 22 March from 12-4pm.

The sessions will be a good opportunity to pose any questions around the development and talk to the team about the plans for the project.

The proposal also includes a new platform lift to provide step-free access from the West Hill Lift top station to all spaces. The ambition is to transform Hastings Castle and West Hill Café site into a significant cultural destination with a focus on heritage, sustainability, and community engagement.

Cllr Julia Hilton, Leader of Hastings Borough Council, said: “I am delighted that Troika are now formally on board and I’m looking forward to seeing their vision and plans presented at the initial public engagement events planned for March. The involvement of residents and visitors is key to this project and commitment to collaboration in the planning process is something we all agree on.”

Graham Peters, Chair of the Town Deal Board, said: “I am looking forward to seeing Troika’s exciting plans and vision develop into a reality, elevating the castle and café space into a leading destination for the town.”

Celia Farrar, Troika Projects said: "Troika Projects are pleased the funding agreement has now been confirmed and we are looking forward to being able to showcase our plans and engage with members of the community during the first events next month. Town Deal Programme. We understand the historic importance of the site to the town and internationally and we can’t wait to get going on developing our carefully thought-out plans into a reality.”

This redevelopment is poised to be a cornerstone in Hastings’ Town Fund Programme, blending history with modern amenities to create a vibrant, engaging space for all with an immersive interpretation centre that celebrates the rich history of Hastings Castle.

 Up-to-date progress on the project going forward will be published on the Hastings Castle World Heritage Destination — Hastings Town Deal page. You can also visit the West Hill Project website and follow @THE_WEST_HILL_PROJECT on Instagram for updates.

The selection process began in October 2023 when the council issued an initial Expression of Interest inviting interested parties to submit their ideas. The RFP (Request for Proposals) followed in March 2024.

The council hosted two open days for prospective bidders in April and May 2024, which led to the three full submissions for the RFP. The two-stage evaluation process involved a thorough assessment by council officers, followed by a final review by an expert panel. This panel, composed of Town Deal Board members and independent specialists, conducted interviews and presentations with all three contenders before selecting Troika Projects as the lead partner. The final stage was to formally sign the Grant Funding Agreement, which has now been confirmed.

 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. Earlier this year the Town Deal Board approved the project’s business case, and the council has allocated £3m of Town Deal money to invest in the project. The council issued an Expression of Interest to gauge market interest in October 2023 and following a positive response, the council is now looking for experienced partners to help deliver the project.