Hastings & St Leonards is just a short step away from becoming the UK's first Millennium Community ... by the Sea!
The ambitious bid, which has led to Hastings & St Leonards competing in a shortlist of just five other towns for Millennium Community status, has been dubbed the 'String of Pearls'. It was put together last year, and if successful, could result in six areas (the pearls) being revitalised to become new communities to live and work in, linked by a metro rail shuttle.
The 'Pearls' - Ore Valley, Hastings Goods Yard, Warrior Square, Marina and Bulverhythe - would be linked by the metro using the existing rail line which runs from Ore to Glyne Gap.
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The highly coveted Millennium Community Awards are run by English Partnerships, and are seen as an exceptional opportunity to regenerate an area. If Hastings & St Leonards is successful, the result will be a mix of open space, housing development, new jobs and supporting facilities.
With sustainability as well as affordability as key themes, the housing is likely to combine originality with flair, and is attracting the attention of developers from forward thinking European countries such as the Netherlands and Germany.
Developments could be solar powered and double up as live and work in units, fully wired to broadband to ensure fast internet links. In fact, the developments are likely to be so innovative that they can adapt to peoples' changing circumstances. The fast track development would ensure minimal resource consumption, sustainable building materials and a short time on site so that noise and dust pollution are kept low.
But it's not just about housing, it's about reinforcing existing communities, creating new open spaces and improving facilities in the town. The scheme could also see a new country park and another station linked to an out of town shopping & leisure complex at Glyne Gap.
Council Leader Jeremy Birch, said:
"This is Hastings & St Leonards' opportunity to establish a leading position on the cutting edge of innovation and excellence in development and to become a model example of best practice for the South East, Britain and Europe."
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This page last updated: 14/04/2002