The old BT Building in Havelock Road has now opened its doors to the first students to take courses through the University Centre Hastings (UCH).
The first phase of the internal refurbishment has been completed and kitted out for students studying HND/Cs in computing. These courses are validated by University of Brighton and provided by Hastings College of Arts and Technology. Early in the new-year a brand new atrium entrance to the building will be complete and final refurbishments to the rest of the building should be done by Easter 2004.
In 2004 an E-Business Degree will be available through UCH, the first of its kind in the UK, and discussions are continuing with a range of Higher Education providers including Canterbury Christ Church University College, University of Sussex, the University of Westminster and the Open University, about further courses to be provided through UCH.
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The much talked about Media Centre comprises two sites opposite one another in Robertson Street; three buildings next to the United Reformed Church (previously home to the Regeneration Centre) and the old Boots Building.
Plans for the three buildings will see them merged together by a scheme that will refurbish two of the buildings while incorporating a stunning contemporary design adjacent on the former Regeneration Centre site, with a linking pedestrian walkway through to Cambridge Road. This new building will be glass fronted with a possibility for films or images to be projected onto it at night. Artists Greyworld have been working with designers on developing an exciting theme for the interior of this building to reflect its new media focus. The ground floor will be a public space and may well include an Internet caf´, shop and perhaps exhibition space for the media companies located there. These could range from TV and radio producers to web designers who will enjoy managed office space with a business support network. The Media Centre on the former Regeneration Centre site will be complete in late 2004.
Meanwhile the ground floor of the former Boots Building is due to be completed at the end of this year and will be home to a Broadband Experience Centre. The Centre will be set up to allow businesses and individuals to come in and find out what broadband could do for them through interactive displays and professional advice. Each person or business has different requirements from online services, whether it is just for everyday surfing and fact finding, enabling video links or sending large files, the demonstration centre facilities and experts will help customers find the right package.
This building will also house up to 25 new media businesses. These businesses will be able to enjoy fully managed modern office space, business support and advice in an environment that encourages networking and building supply chains. The upper floors of the Boots building will be ready for occupation by March 2004.
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Work on the designs for the Station Plaza has now begun and a planning application should be made in summer 2004. Work to develop the site could start in autumn 2004.
The site will include a mix of commercial, education and retail space along with housing as part of Hastings Millennium Community project.
Long awaited work on Hastings Station itself started in June 2003. The changes should give the station a much needed facelift to become a fantastic new gateway to the town.
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You've all heard about plans to build a hotel on the seafront and you might think that it will block both the stunning sea views and those back to historic Pelham Crescent.
But plans for Pelham Square do not envisage views being blocked in either direction. In a brief given to world-class architects, the vision for Pelham Square is a design to focus on and flatter historic Pelham Crescent and to complement the beautiful St Mary in the Castle, while providing new facilities and space in a prime seafront location.
Pelham Square will be the area where the car park is currently: right up to the Crescent and St Mary in the Castle. The area will become a European-style plaza, with views to the sea, town, up to the cliffs, the castle and the Crescent. Known as a civic space, plazas or squares are areas where people can congregate year-round, perhaps with cafés and shops; undercover and outdoor spaces for performance and public artwork. The area is likely to include a hotel (the town is desperately short of high quality places for visitors and business representatives to stay), a business centre, leisure and cultural facilities.
The scheme will also include developing the shopping arcade under Pelham Crescent, which is thought to be the oldest underground shopping arcade in Europe.
The prestigious shortlist of three architects include those responsible for Hungerford Bridge and the Oxo Tower in London (Lifschutz Davidson), London's City Hall and British Museum Great Court (Foster and Partners) and Japan's Yokohama ferry terminal and Museum of Oriental Cinema at the Southbank in London (Foreign Office Architects). Attracting these distinguished architects will ensure three entirely different but outstanding design options.
The concept designs were on show during Hastings Week, 11th - 18th October at St Mary in the Castle. They were not the final designs, merely the architects' first impressions of how the site could be successfully developed to achieve aims of creating around 800 new jobs and attracting investment into the area as well as raising the town's profile.
The next stage will be more detailed drawings, taking into account the feedback that people and statutory authorities give. It is hoped that by summer 2004, a detailed proposal can go to the Council's Planning Board.
At the time of going to press, work was being carried out to find out what is underneath the car park - finding out about the different materials and so on. This is so that architects can take this into account when they are putting together their designs.
Imagine it. By 2008 you could be enjoying anything from beach volley ball to outdoor performances in a sheltered and beautiful square, surrounded by the castle, Pelham Crescent and St Mary in the Castle, sipping a cool drink and watching the seashore sights.
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This page last updated: 02/10/2003