Decision details

To note the outcomes of the Hastings Town Centre Public Realm and Green Connections public consultation and to approve proceeding to detailed design.

23.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.

DECISIONS

23.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

(1) Note the consultation outcomes of the stakeholder and public consultation as set out in the 15 July 2024 report;

(2) Note the outcome of further discussions with Hastings Borough Council following the Lead Member’s decision on the 15 July 2024 to defer the decisions regarding Hastings Town Centre Public Realm and Green Connections; and

(3) Approve incorporating two-way bus and cycle movement in Harold Place and Havelock Road into the revised scheme scope and progress to detailed design, including considering further opportunities for planting and sustainable urban drainage into the scheme, and construction.

REASONS

23.3     The Hastings Town Centre Public Realm and Green Connections project funded through the Hastings Town Deal represents an enormous opportunity to support the ease of movements between the rail station, town centre and seafront via the Havelock Road and Harold Place corridor and improve the town’s public realm. The County Council, as delivery partner, entered into a grant agreement with Hastings Borough Council, as the accountable body for the funding, to receive £9,754,458 of Towns Deal monies towards the project.

23.4     Consultation on the project proposals were undertaken between January and March 2024. Following the consultation outcomes, including the concerns regarding the detrimental impact on bus operations in the town centre, the preferred recommended scheme to retain two-way movements on Harold Place and Havelock Road was presented at the Lead Member’s decision-making meeting on 15 July 2024.

23.5     Following the Lead Member’s decision to defer consideration of the consultation outcomes and next steps, further positive and constructive discussions between parties stated in section 2 of the report have taken place and have demonstrated that wider town centre initiatives will not be dependent on the progression of the Hastings Town Centre Public Realm and Green Connections project. The risks to project delivery and funding do however remain significant and the pause to the project to allow time for further discussions has resulted in the need to re-procure design consultants and seek a Project Change Request via Hastings Borough Council and Government.