Bohemia Development Area FAQs

The Bohemia area is situated behind the seafront between Hastings Town Centre and Central St Leonards. The area includes the Summerfields leisure centre, ambulance station/make ready centre and the Travelodge hotel on Bohemia Road, as well as White Rock Gardens, the Oval, the indoor bowls centre, and bowling greens, skate park and miniature golf course.

This is an exciting opportunity to transform our leisure and cultural entertainment facilities.  From sites which are currently ageing and uninspiring into something the town can be proud of, that offers something for both the local and wider community and tourists alike.

The options appraisal has provided us with information on how much things might cost so the council can decide if this should continue to be a priority and if it is affordable to do it.

The options appraisal looked at the current and future needs for sport, leisure and culture within Hastings for residents and visitors. It also looked at the cost of building these facilities. New leisure and culture facilities are central to the Bohemia area development. It is important that we get this right by taking the time to research and assess the options before we develop anything.

We hired cultural and sport specialists to look at:

• Development of viable and sustainable options for the leisure and cultural facilities
• New leisure and cultural centres, replacing Summerfield leisure centre, Falaise gym and White Rock theatre
• Outdoor sport and outdoor events space.
• Physical activity and wellbeing
• Design Concepts for new facilities/ centre(s)
• Location/ sites for new facilities/ centre(s)
• Business Plan

We're some way off construction. We've currently completed an options appraisal using expert consultants to help us.

This options appraisal and business case will then be taken to Cabinet in January, if approved the council will start to develop more detailed plans and timeline.

Initial next steps, will be to do technical site surveys to see where a new leisure/ cultural centre could be located, results of this will then help the council with a more detailed timeline and see what options are possible for the site.

We don't know yet as these figures will depend on the size and scope of the facilities and centre.

 The building Summerfields leisure centre is in is becoming aged, with substantial repairs going to be required as well as difficulty in keeping the facilities up to date and fit for purpose.

The current building has required and is going to continue to require substantial repairs.  It's aging facilities such as the backstage area mean that it is difficult to ensure it meets the demands of the industry and audiences.

Concept ideas will be determined from the options appraisal, more detailed work will then need to happen.

Yes, the new facilities/centre will be accessible for all.

Part of the options appraisal will look at how new facilities could be integrated with open space for sports, events and leisure, as well promoting biodiversity through continuing to offer gardens and green spaces.

Yes there will be, the size of the space will be determined at a later stage as part of the detailed design process.

 At this stage we don't know until more detailed design work has been done.

The Council is fully committed to reducing its carbon footprint and this will be reflected in the design and building operation of future developments within the Bohemia area.

We are looking at options for redeveloping the site. This will depend on the outcomes from the options appraisal and further detailed design work.

Yes it is, we are still at an early stage in the project so there are no plans to close Clambers at the moment.

To get us to this stage we have already widely consulted with residents and community groups in Hastings;

• As part of the Local Plan development process with the Town Centre and Bohemia Area Action Plan
• For the development of the Bohemia Masterplan
• As part of the Leisure and Cultural centres options appraisal process, where users, clubs and leaseholders in the Bohemia area were asked their views.

We are always happy to receive comments and suggestions about the Bohemia development, please email us with yours. As the project progresses further, we will be undertaking further public consultation.