Hastings Town Centre Public Realm and Green Connections Project reaches final design stage

East Sussex County Council has announced the completion of the final designs, following public consultation and extensive technical work.

The finalised plans set out a clear timeline for delivering a greener, safer and more welcoming town centre.

The design team, Arup, has finalised the plans covering every element of the project, from road layouts and planting schemes to drainage and materials.

The final phase of design focused on balancing a wide range of needs. Updates included revised road layouts and bus arrangements to improve safety and reliability, alongside enhancements to planting and cycling infrastructure. Feedback from residents, stakeholders and statutory consultees played a key role in shaping the refined proposals.

The updated master plan and artist impressions illustrate how these changes will come together on the ground, creating a greener, safer and more welcoming place for everyone.

These can viewed on the Town Deal blog update page.

Cllr Julia Hilton, Deputy Leader of Hastings Borough Council and lead councillor for shaping places and local government reorganisation, said, “This scheme is a landmark step in Hastings’ ongoing regeneration. This will transform our town centre creating greener, friendlier and more welcoming spaces which will not only make our town’s infrastructure more climate resilient but create a foundation for sustainable growth, economic opportunity, and a stronger, more vibrant community for years to come."

The newly released artist impressions offer a vivid glimpse into how the transformed town centre will look and feel, with proposed road layouts, new pocket parks and integrated sustainable drainage (SuDS) features, designed to enhance both the environment and public realm in the town centre. 

Statutory Consultation

Residents and local businesses will be able to share their views as part of the statutory consultation, which will be promoted through local publications, a letter drop for local businesses and residents and East Sussex County Council social media channels, expected in May 2026. 

Construction and Next Steps

The detailed Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stage 4 drawings are now complete, translating the overall vision into a carefully coordinated technical package and the project team will begin the procurement process this month to appoint a construction contractor. Experienced contractors will be invited to bid, with proposals carefully reviewed to ensure high quality delivery while working considerately within the local community. 

Pending the outcome of the consultations listed above, construction is planned to begin in Autumn 2026 with works expected to be completed by Winter 2027/2028. The programme will continue to be refined throughout procurement and delivery to ensure it remains within budget.

Construction will be delivered in clearly planned phases to minimise disruption, keeping roads, footways and key routes accessible wherever possible. Noise, deliveries and temporary traffic changes will be carefully managed throughout the works.  

For more information and updates on the timeline and construction phases visit the Town Deal blog project page.

Meet the project team at the Good Future Event in Hastings on Thursday 12 March at the East Sussex College Hastings Campus from 10am – 4pm and Saturday 14 March, at, the Observer Building.

To subscribe to the project newsletter and received updates, email HastingsGreenConnections@eastsussex.gov.uk.