Town Deal Open Day event

Hastings Town Deal programme team hosts a second Open Day, providing updates to members of the public on the exciting projects happening across the town.

The Open Day took place at the Priory Meadow Shopping Centre on Saturday 27 January from 10am - 4pm and provided residents, businesses and shopping centre visitors with updates on the £24.3m Town Deal regeneration programme currently taking place in Hastings.

The exhibition consisted of visual updates for all projects and representatives for each of the current projects were present and to answer questions around the projects. There was a very positive turnout with more than 25,000 people visiting the shopping centre throughout the day.

The Town Deal funding was given by government in 2021 to spend on specific projects meeting strict guidelines. The team explained this to visitors as well as answering many questions about housing, potholes and other council services which cannot be addressed through these projects.

There was also a positive response to signing up members of the public to attend tours of The Observer Building which will take place on several later dates.

Updates on some of the successfully completed projects were also provided as part of the exhibition.

The Open Day also saw the launch of the Hastings Town Centre Public Realm and Green Connections project and public consultation. At this first public consultation event Arup, the design team, unveiled proposed plans for the project and invited feedback from attendees, alongside officers from East Sussex County Council transport team, Hastings Borough Council and the Hastings Garden Town team. The plans include ideas around greener connections for walking and cycling through the town and improvements to public spaces. Transition Town Hastings will be hosting a walkabout to talk through the plans on 15 February. Places are limited so please email info@transitiontownhastings.org.uk if you are interested in signing up.

The public consultation on the proposed concept designs is open until 1 March. Full details including the project brochure, public events and how you can respond to plans can be viewed on the East Sussex County Council website. Paper copies of the brochure also including a copy of the survey and freepost envelope are available at the following locations:

• Hastings Library, Brassey Institute, 13 Claremont, TN34 1HE
• Summerfields Leisure Centre, Bohemia Road, TN34 1ET
• Common Room, Eagle House, 27-29 Cambridge Road, TN34 1DJ.

The online survey must be completed by 11.59pm on 1 March.

Graham Peters, Chair of the Town Deal Board, said: "I'm pleased that so many people came along to the Open Day to find out more about the projects in the town being funded through the Town Deal programme. This targeted government funding gives us the opportunity to improve the lives of Hastings residents through the specific Town Deal projects, including the town centre public realm and green connections project and the town centre regeneration plan, where the council is working with Homes England to bring forward development opportunities for new homes and commercial and leisure uses in the town centre."

More information on the Town Deal programme can be found via the Hastings Town Deal blog www.hastingstowndeal.co.uk and on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter).

Notes for editors
In 2021 Hastings was one of 101 UK towns to receive a share of the Government's Towns Fund to kick-start the regeneration of the town with funding of £24.3m. Read our full plan Hastings Town Investment Plan.

A Town Deal is an agreement in principle between government, the Lead Council and the Town Deal board. It will set out a vision and strategy for the town, and what each party agrees to do to achieve this vision.

The Towns Fund is part of the Government's Levelling Up agenda. Find out more about Levelling Up the United Kingdom.