Supplementary Planning Guidance

Public art can play an important role in enhancing local distinctiveness and a sense of place.  It can also benefit the local economy, by providing opportunities for local artists and local community involvement, and will also help to enhance the appeal of Hastings and St. Leonards as a tourist destination.

Where major developments are proposed, the Council will seek a contribution towards public art from developers.  The nature of the contribution will be negotiated with the developer and will take the form of provision for works of art or artists' input to the building and its surroundings, or through a financial contribution towards public art works, arts facilities or events.  The type of public art and level of contribution will depend on the nature of the development proposal, and the characteristics of the site and its surroundings.  However, a nationally acceptable guideline is that it will be around 1% of the construction costs.

Extract from Hastings Borough Council's Planning Policy:

‘Policy DG20A Material consideration in the determination of a planning application for a major development scheme will be the provision of public art.  The Council will have regard to the contribution that would be made by any such works or effects tot he apearance of the scheme and to the character of the area.’

Extract from the Hastings Local Plan 2004 - Supplementary Guidelines:

‘6.12  Public art helps to foster a sense of place, making it memorable, and provides useful landmarks.  As the supporting text to Policy DG20 makes clear, it is especially valuable in a Borough like Hastings, which attracts a significant number of tourists.  Public art can take many forms and the Borough Council has a relatively open mind on what may be appropriate.  It will certainly be willing to consider sculpture, stained glass, murals, fountains, special railings and gates or art-driven treatments to ground surfaces.  In general terms, the Council will prefer developers to include public art within their developments, but in appropriate circumstances may agree to accept contributions to off-site artworks.  The Borough Council considers 1% of construction costs as an appropriate contribution to public art.  The Council would like developers to give preference to incorporating the work of artists based in Hastings and its immediate surrounding area.’

(See: www.hastings.gov.uk/local_plan/spg7.pdf)

Back to top of page...