FHSF & Towns Fund: Newhaven & Hastings

Team East Sussex16 March 2020

1. FHSF Overview• Core Objective:“to renew and reshape town centres and high streets in a way that improves

experience, drives growth and ensures future sustainability.”

• Key Themes:1. Investment in physical infrastructure

2. Acquisition and assembly of land (incl. to support new housing, workspaces & public realm)

3. Improvements to transport access, traffic flow and circulation

4. Supporting change of use incl. (where appropriate) housing delivery & densification

5. Supporting adaptation of the high street in response to changing technology

Newhaven User Survey• Low dwell time and low spend – 50% of town centre visitors stay for an hour

or less. Almost half of visitors (47%) spend less than £10 on a typical visit and 14.5% make no purchases at all.

• Out of town retail preferred - Less than 8% do the majority of their shopping in town centre with 41.4% using supermarkets and shops within Newhaven retail parks.

• Minimal use for social and leisure activities - Less than 7% of users chose the town centre as the focus for their leisure and social activities.

• Limited evening and weekend economy – 88.5% of visitors do so during the day on weekdays. Only 7.7% visited on weekend evenings.

➢ Visitors can be encouraged - 84% would visit more often if larger choice of shops and services, 37% would be encouraged by improved daytime food and drink offerings, 32% by night time food and entertainment, 45% would be encouraged by a more attractive town centre.

High Street Context

Emerging Newhaven Bid• Three core elements:

– Creative Hub

– Community Hub

– Wayfinding & Access

• Provisional Ask: £7million

• Project delivery 2021-24 (subject to funding)

FHSF Images

Summary• Seeking to re-purpose existing buildings

• Provisional ask of £7m for key interventions, supported by other co-funded activities

• TES / SELEP endorsement requested

Town Fund

Town Deal for Hastings

The Headlines

• Bids up to £25m

• £173k to develop Business Plan

Opportunities• “Reset” next period of regeneration for Hastings

• Re-engage partnerships and build on strengths

• Align with emerging strategies inc. SE LIS, SE Coastal

Prospectus, TF Review, emerging Local Plan & the

planned East Sussex Growth Strategy

• Case for change in the way VFM and benefits form

public investment is assessed - levelling up agenda

• Engage with a other funders inc private investors

around a combined programme

Challenges

• It’s a negotiated deal – not guaranteed

• Lack of revenue funding – find a way to obtain

• Packages to tackle polarisation and promoting

inclusive regeneration

• “Capturing” & ‘Stimulating’ ambition by enabling

delivery – via the local plan; by phasing

investment; packaging sites; incentives and

working with sustainable end users

• Working in challenging times and a challenging

timeline

Progress to date Hastings Town Board & EDG established using local structures – BID,

College, ESCC, MP, Cultural Network; Business; Social Enterprises

Community & Voluntary Sector; Health; HBC & Council leaders

Progress to date

Progress to date

What is your group’s vision for Hastings?

• A healthy’ vibrant and quirky seaside town that

people must visit, live and work in.

• Thriving prosperous town which benefits every

one.

• A place of opportunity, with economic security

and high quality of life for all.

• A town where people say ‘I can make it in

Hastings!’

Next Steps

• Consultation and engagement programme to

be commissioned - March 20

• Town Investment Plan to be commissioned –

establishing the strategic case and economic

case for investment – March 20

• Next Board Meeting 27th June 20

A Town Deal for Newhaven• Same process as Hastings

• £140k capacity funding received

• Government guidance awaited to enable development of Town Investment Plan

Progress to date• 1st Board meeting held 12 February

• Board structure builds on EZ Board, as well as Coastal Community Team

• Strong public response from #mytowncampaign

#mytown

Next Steps• Board meeting scheduled for 22 May

• Task & Finish Group being created to undertake initial project sift

• New business chair appointed (subject to Board ratification)

• Consultants to be commissioned, subject to detail of Government requirements.