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Report to:
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Lead Member for
Transport and Environment
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Date of
meeting:
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15 July
2024
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By:
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Director of
Communities, Economy and Transport
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Title:
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Hastings Town Centre
Public Realm and Green Connections consultation outcome
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Purpose:
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To consider the
outcome of the Hastings Town Centre Public Realm and Green
Connections consultation and approve the scheme to be taken forward
to the next design stages and construction.
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RECOMMENDATIONS: The
Lead Member is recommended to:
(1)
Note the outcomes
of the stakeholder and public consultation for Hastings Town Centre
Public Realm and Green Connections;
(2)
Approve
incorporating the alternative proposal to retain two-way bus and
cycle only movement in Harold Place and Havelock Road into the
revised scheme scope in response to the consultation outcomes,
stakeholder feedback and option assessment relating to the bus
re-routing proposals in Hastings town centre; and
(3)
Approve the updated
design option at recommendation 2 above is progressed to detailed
design, including considering further opportunities for planting
and sustainable urban drainage into the scheme, and
construction.
1
Background Information
1.1.
In November 2019 the Government’s Towns Fund programme
allocated £24.4m to Hastings Borough Council. The aim of the
Towns Fund is to drive the economic regeneration of Hastings to
deliver long term economic and productivity growth through
investment in urban regeneration, infrastructure, and
connectivity.
1.2.
Working in partnership with the Borough Council and the Hastings
Garden Town Team, the County Council developed an initial business
case seeking £3.38m of Towns Fund for the first phase of the
Hastings Town Centre Public Realm and Green Connections project.
This was approved by the Hastings Town Deal Board in September
2022.
1.3.
Following the withdrawal of another Towns Deal project from the
programme in early 2023, the Town Deal Board allocated a further
£6.375m to the project. The County Council supported the
development of a secondary business case for a wider project
boundary within Hastings Town Centre utilising this additional
funding, which was approved by the Hastings Town Deal Board in May
2023. In total there is £10,154,458 available towards the
project; £9,754,458 of Town Deal funding and an additional
£0.4m match funding previously secured from the South East
Local Enterprise Partnership. As part of the development of these
business cases, a preliminary design up to RIBA2 stage (Royal
Institute of British Architects concept design stage) was
developed. Key stakeholders including local bus operator
Stagecoach, Southern Water, Hastings Business Improvement District
and East Sussex College were consulted to inform the preliminary
design.
1.4.
Following approval from the Lead Member for Transport and
Environment at her decision-making meeting on 20 November 2023, the
County Council, as the local highway authority and project delivery
partner, entered into a grant funded agreement with Hastings
Borough Council, the Accountable Body for the Hastings Town Fund.
To address financial risks surrounding project delivery, additional
clauses were included within the grant funding agreement to ensure
both parties (Hastings Borough Council and East Sussex County
Council) agree that if the intended scope of the project may result
in overspend, methods of amending and de-scoping the project to
ensure an overspend is not incurred and the integrity and core
outcomes of the project are maintained, will be agreed.
2.
Supporting Information
Design Development
2.1.
The Hastings Town Centre Public Realm and Green Connections scheme
focusses on the Havelock Road and Harold Place corridor supporting
the ease of movement from the rail station as a key gateway into
the town, through the heart of the town centre and across the A259,
which runs parallel to the seafront promenade, to the beach beyond.
The scheme extent is at Appendix 1.
2.2.
The scheme proposes a central, adaptable public space for the
Havelock Road, Queens Road, Harold Place and Robertson Street area,
to create a sense of place in the town centre and provide a focal
point which could flexibly accommodate a range of events,
activities, and festivals across the year. In addition, the concept
proposals included potential changes to the routing of traffic in
the town centre and in particular buses using the pedestrianised
section of Queens Road by making Havelock Road one way only
northbound as well as the introduction of a two-way segregated
cycle route from the station to the seafront.
2.3.
The proposals aim to improve the public realm along the Havelock
Road/Harold Place corridor, as well as in Wellington Place towards
the Albert Road underpass. Increased tree planting and the
introduction of biodiverse ecologies are included within the
proposals which have benefited from guidance via the Hastings
Garden Town Team to provide ‘greening’ in Hastings town
centre, as it helps to enable increased housing and leisure
opportunities.
Equality Impact Assessment
2.4.
An Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) on the proposed scheme, at
Appendix 2, was produced prior to public consultation. This
identified that, on balance, the benefits of the scheme for
improved public safety through increased lighting, additional
pedestrian crossings and improved public realm and accessible
furniture outweighed the potential negative impacts.
2.5.
Where equality issues were identified, such as the potential for
confusion to be created with some protected characteristic groups
when changing the bus stop and taxi rank locations and the possible
impact of redesigning the road space and movement of blue badge
disabled parking spaces, mitigating measures will be identified. An
additional accessibility audit, at Appendix 3, has also been
commissioned to review further the accessibility of the site, which
will be used to inform the detailed design stage.
2.6.
Where reasonably practicable, the designs will seek to address the
comments raised in the audit. The EqIA will be updated at detailed
design and construction stages.
Local engagement
2.7.
A comprehensive stakeholder mapping exercise was undertaken which
identified key interest groups or those who could be affected by
the proposals. County Councillors and Borough Councillors directly
inputted into the proposals prior to the public consultation taking
place, with local Hastings Borough Councillors identifying key
priorities such as the widening of the scheme and consultation
scope to include an east/west corridor from Robertson Street to
Wellington Place alongside views regarding the re-routing of buses
via Queens Road and the long-term maintenance and safety
requirements for the scheme.
2.8.
The Hastings Garden Town Team provided regular input into the
development of the proposals, maintaining a consistent vision for
the town centre that would see pedestrianisation prioritised with
the removal of traffic along Havelock Road and Harold Place. Local
bus operators, local businesses and organisations representing the
business community, sustainable and active travel groups,
accessibility groups and local campaigners, education providers,
emergency services, and voluntary and community sector
organisations were also engaged with on the proposals prior to the
wider public consultation.
Public Consultation
2.9.
The public consultation on the concept design proposals ran for a
6-week period from 22 January to 1 March 2024. Ahead of the
consultation, a series of engagement sessions were undertaken to
brief key stakeholders and local County and Borough Councillors on
the consultation programme. The approach and activities for
consultation can be found in section 2 of the Consultation Report
at Appendix 4.
2.10.
In summary, the consultation included online survey and easy-read
brochures, multiple in-person public events at prime locations such
as Priory Meadow Shopping Centre, several focussed workshops with
key stakeholder groups, 2,300 postcards delivered to residential
addresses and businesses in the town centre area and further
promotion via social media and press releases. Engagement meetings
also took place with all statutory consultees who are formally
consulted as part of planning processes.
Consultation analysis and outcomes
2.11.
The outcomes of the consultation are set out in the Hastings Town
Centre Public Realm and Green Connections Consultation Report at
Appendix 4. The public consultation survey asked for feedback on
the overall town centre design and each specific area of the
scheme, as well as current perceptions of the town and perceived
safety. A total of 972 survey responses were received, including 82
paper copies. Over 90% of respondents were Hastings’
residents.
2.12.
In response to the closed survey questions regarding what
respondents think of each area of the schemes, respondents replied
as follows:
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Area
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Strongly
agree
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Agree
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Neither agree /
disagree
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Disagree
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Strongly
disagree
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Did not
answer
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Overall Town Centre
proposal
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25%
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25%
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17%
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15%
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18%
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0%
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Changes to bus
routes
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13%
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17%
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37%
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12%
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20%
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1%
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Harold
Place
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21%
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28%
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24%
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10%
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16%
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1%
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Station to Seafront
segregated cycle route
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26%
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23%
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21%
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11%
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18%
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1%
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Wellington
Place
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21%
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31%
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30%
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8%
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9%
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1%
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Central
area
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26%
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29%
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20%
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12%
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13%
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0%
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2.13.
Analysis of the quantitative responses shows that half the
respondents supported the overall proposals whilst around a third
did not; 30% supported the changes to the bus routing in the town
centre and almost half supported the station to seafront segregated
cycle route along Havelock Road and Harold Place. Over half
also supported the place shaping proposals for Wellington Place and
the central area of the scheme.
2.14.
Qualitative analysis of the consultation responses and stakeholder
engagement highlighted similar concerns around the proposed changes
to the bus routes in the town centre. These included the safety of
mixing pedestrians and buses on Queens Road, access to the Town
Hall, and the impact on accessibility to bus stops. It should be
noted that the high percentage of ‘neither agree nor
disagree’ responses could be largely attributed to the lack
of detail shared regarding the bus re-routing proposals as these
had not been confirmed with the local bus operator prior to
consultation.
2.15.
Other key themes highlighted throughout the consultation included
pedestrian/cyclist safety in shared use areas; enforcement of
traffic restrictions; the cost of ongoing maintenance of the green
spaces; exacerbating existing antisocial behaviour; and access to
public toilets. Detailed responses to the key themes, trends and
comments are set out in the consultation response report at
Appendix 5.
Maintenance and personal security
2.16.
It is proposed that a maintenance led approach be applied when
selecting the necessary public realm materials and the County
Council’s Asset Management team will continue to be engaged
throughout the detailed design stage. The additional planting and
soft landscaping will be maintained by Hastings Borough Council who
are currently developing a long-term management and maintenance
plan for the town centre which will include policies for
maintenance of the project area.
2.17.
As part of the detailed design stages of the project, further
engagement will also take place with Sussex Police’s
‘Design Out Crime’ Officer and Hastings Borough
Council’s Community Safety Manager to address enforcement and
antisocial behaviour concerns raised during the consultation.
Review of the bus routing proposals
2.18.
At present, Harold Place and Havelock Road is two-way with buses,
taxis and cyclists only going southbound whilst northbound is open
to use by all traffic including buses. As highlighted in sections
2.11 to 2.13 of this report, a high percentage of respondents did
not agree with the proposed changes to bus routing in the town
centre with the closure of Harold Place to traffic and the use of
the current pedestrianised section of Queens Road to run buses
through and then northbound up Havelock Road to the rail
station.
2.19.
Consequently, 2 further design solutions have been developed aimed
at retaining and balancing the need for sustainable transport and
active travel access into the town centre, while also offering
scope to incorporate greening and planting. These concept options
are:
·
Option 1: Retains
northbound lane on Havelock Road and Harold Place for buses only
with two-way segregated cycle lane. Southbound buses would be
re-routed via Devonshire Place and South Terrace. Existing
northbound general traffic to the station would be re-routed
elsewhere on the local road network.
·
Option 2: Retain both
lanes on Havelock Road and Harold Place for two-way bus movements
with cyclists also able to use the bus lanes. Existing
northbound general traffic to the station would be re-routed
elsewhere on the local road network.
2.20.
A stakeholder workshop was held following the public consultation
to receive feedback and help shape the ideas further especially
around balancing bus and active travel infrastructure in the town
centre alongside the planting, maintenance, and hard landscaping
aspects of the scheme design. In addition, a detailed options
assessment and analysis of these 2 options are set out in Appendix
6 which considers the wider transport policy context around the
emerging Local Transport Plan 4, the requirements of the East
Sussex Bus Service Improvement Plan and active travel (walking,
wheeling and cycling) alongside the effects on the operation of bus
services who traverse or terminate in Hastings town
centre.
2.21.
Taking into consideration the views and opinions expressed during
the public consultation, the views of key stakeholders such as
local Members, the Hastings Garden Town Team, the bus
operator, bus community and other local interest groups through the
further feedback sessions on the alternative bus routing options,
the modelling of the transport and bus operational effects of all
options, and the wider transport policy context, on balance it is
recommended that Option 2 – retaining two-way movement for
buses on Havelock Road and Harold Place - is incorporated into the
refined design for the Hastings Town Centre Public Realm and Green
Connections scheme.
2.22.
Incorporating Option 2 into the
design will ensure that the impacts on bus operations are minimised
whilst also improving provision for cyclists and removing
northbound general traffic from the Havelock Road/Harold Place
corridor. In doing so it is recognised that this compromise
solution will not be met with complete approval from all key
stakeholders. However, pursing this option will still achieve the
key business case objectives such as improving the public realm and
planting in the town centre thereby creating a greater sense of
place in Hastings town centre. If Option 2 is taken forward, it is
recommended that further options are explored during the next
design stage to include planting and sustainable urban drainage
along Havelock Road while retaining two-way bus lanes along this
corridor, subject to sufficient flexibility in the
budget.
Next steps
2.23.
The scheme, incorporating the recommended changes for bus and cycle
routing on Havelock Road and Harold Place outlined above, as well
as other consultation comments where practical, is due to progress
to RIBA3 (Developed Design) stage with a planning application due
for submission in September 2024. The subsequent detailed design
process will also include continued engagement with key stakeholder
groups including the business community, accessibility groups and
transport groups. The Towns Deal delivery deadline for the project
is March 2026.
3.
Conclusion and
Reasons for Recommendations
3.1.
Through the Hastings Town Deal, the Hastings Town Centre Public
Realm and Green Connections scheme presents a significant
opportunity to invest in enhancing connectivity between the train
station and seafront, by improving the public realm, enhancing
opportunities for safer walking, wheeling, cycling and public
transport journeys in the town centre, as well as maximising
biodiversity and green spaces to contribute to the health and
wellbeing of people and to help protect against a changing
climate.
3.2.
Following public and stakeholder consultation undertaken in early
2024, there was a mixed response to the proposals. Whilst there was
a good level of support for the segregated cycle route along
Havelock Road and Harold Place, alongside the creation of a new
public realm space for the central area and place-shaping in
Wellington Place, there was less support for the proposed changes
to bus routes with strong opposition for the re-routing of buses on
the current pedestrianised section of Queens Road. The Lead Member
is recommended to note the outcomes arising from the consultation
on the Hastings Town Centre and Green Connections proposals.
3.3.
In response to the consultation feedback on the re-routing of buses
in the town centre, two alternative design options have been
developed; firstly, to enable bus movements one-way northbound on
Havelock Road and Harold Place with a segregated two-way cycle
route, or secondly, retain two-way movements for buses and taxis
only on Havelock Road and Harold Place with on-carriageway cycle
lanes in both directions. These alternative designs were presented
to key stakeholders including the bus operator, the business
community and local interest groups to seek feedback and refine the
proposals. Either alternative design would still deliver against
key business case outputs around the extent of improvements to the
public realm and pedestrian space, as well as planting to create
new biodiverse ecosystems in the town centre.
3.4.
Based on the analysis presented in sections 2.18 to 2.22 as well as
in Appendix 6, it is recommended that two-way movement for buses
and cyclists is retained on Havelock Road and Harold Place (Option
2) and incorporated into the scheme design; that opportunities to
include further planting and sustainable urban drainage along
Havelock Road while retaining two-way movement are considered at
the next design stage, and that the revised scheme scope is
progressed to detailed design and construction.
Director of Communities, Economy
and Transport
Contact Officer: Ellie
McDaniel
Tel. No. 07514 721387
Email: ellie.mcdaniel@eastsussex.gov.uk
LOCAL
MEMBERS
Councillor
Daniel
BACKGROUND
DOCUMENTS
Minute 43.
Agenda for Lead Member for Transport and Environment on Monday,
20th November, 2023, 10.00 am | East Sussex County
Council