-
Agenda item
Town Deal project submissions workshop session
10:55
Discussion on project ideas by thematic area based on the submissions received prior to the meeting
Minutes:
Victoria explained that the focus of this session is to identify any ‘shovel ready’ projects, identify new ideas, focus on interventions in the town centre and open up discussions from partners.
In summary, there are 52 potential projects, mostly broad and macro in detail:
- 9 Local transport
- 2 Digital Connectivity
- 22 Urban regeneration, planning and land use
- 5 Arts, Culture and heritage
- 10 Skills infrastructure
- 4 Enterprise infrastructure
Some of the emerging town centre projects are:
· White Rock Baths courtyard enterprise project – Richard explained that this is phase 2 of the project, following the phase 1 work that started in 2013, which resulted in The Source Park opening in 2016. There are a number of rooms alongside the courtyard and the idea is that The Source will be the anchor tenant and a hub for retail leisure and hospitality will be created. The feasibility study has been completed and the project is ready to go. There was general support for this project and that this project was worth exploring further and building it up to be one of the potential projects
· Observer building project – Jess explained that the building has been derelict for 35 years. It was bought in February 2019, is 4,000 sq metres in size over seven stories. The planning application was submitted on 1st May and is viewable on the HBC website and partner support and comments is sought. The building is part of the Hastings Commons which started with Rock House in 2014 and now includes a whole range of building in that small area clustered around the alley in Claremont. Rock House has six affordable flats, 42 micro enterprises and a community kitchen. The Observer could give 166 full time equivalent long-term jobs when completed as well as 10 gross job years during construction. The jobs will be for local people, so when going out to tender, local labour and supplier clauses will be written. Phase 1 has been funded and is ready to start, tendering will start in September and it is expected works will commence in November, and completed in Summer next year. the next phase is for the alley level and ground floor, universal access, putting the lift in, allowing access from the front door and the alley level. This project will be explored further as a potential project.
· Heritage Action Zone capital projects (12 Claremont) – Kate explained that Heart of Hastings and Project Artworks led the community asset transfer for the building. The plan is for a phased development over the next 3-5 years, depending on the speed at the right capital funds can be acquired, to create an ultra-inclusive town centre community hub with focus on a gallery and project space on the ground floor, that will represent neuro-divergent artists and makers and also provide space for family carers and pier support training and volunteer opportunities. The basement will be a project space that will provide wide access to communities for various uses and will be run by Project Artworks. The top floor will be made into work spaces for creative people, with a strong inclusive element and for the middle floors, proposals are in place to create live work space for creatives, including one or two units for those who may need different kind of support to live independently, but all with capped and affordable rent.
· Town Centre Hotel – Hannah explained that the proposed site is on the site of the Cornwallis car park and it is looking to enter into an agreement with a hotel chain to develop and operate the hotel site. HBC Cabinet approved the decision to explore the opportunity in further detail in December last year. The work was paused due to COVID-19 but it is expected that a follow up report to set out the next phase of the agreement process and hopefully agree heads of terms will go to Cabinet shortly. There are a number of jobs, additional hotel spaces and other items that may need to be looked at in terms of benefits to the area. Details will be brought to this board once these have been confirmed with the hotel chain board.
· Station Plaza – work is being carried out on the East Sussex College Group’s Estates Strategy and the concepts of a small conference facility and development of the ground floor as commercial space are being investigated as there are several outlets there already. Although not directly skills related, but directly linked to businesses.
· Energy infrastructure – should also be investigated as there have been a lot of discussion around how to attract new green and green technology companies to the town and there is an opportunity to explore these
There are also a number of other opportunities and empty spaces that may be coming up in the town centre which would be worthwhile to explore. An expression of interest form will be placed on the HBC website after this meeting, which will be made available to a wider audience to get more ideas.
It was suggested that a walking tour around the town centre should take place to look at the various sites. Action 3: a tour should be arranged, COVID-19 allowing. It was also suggested that a video could be created, possibly by students at the college. It was also suggested that public sector owned buildings should be considered and Steve suggested he could be the link between this body and the SPACES Board, which is the East Sussex-wide estates body.
A list of premises, spaces, sizes and uses would be useful to get a better understanding. Action 4: a list will be created as part of the Town Investment Plan development process.
-
My council
Contact
Got a question about democratic services?
Content
The content on this page is the responsibility of our Democratic Services team.