Whitehawk is to get a new £7.4 million community centre with health, education, childcare and library services.
Brighton and Hove City Council has just been given £5.3 million by the Government to help fund the centre. The council will contribute £2.1 million.
It hopes that it will be open at a site at on or near Whitehawk Primary School in Whitehawk Road within two years.
An exhibition of the plans is now on display at Whitehawk Library, and two public meetings tomorrow and Monday will give residents a chance to find out more.
Vanessa Brown, cabinet member for children, said: “This pioneering project will change the way we deliver services in this part of the city and offer better support to families so that all children can achieve their potential.
“I am delighted that the Government has recognised our groundbreaking work to develop integrated children’s services.
“The funding will enable us to develop an exciting project that benefits the whole community.”
David Smith, cabinet member for culture, said: “This is a really exciting plan for library services in Whitehawk.
“It will enable us to provide a modern library that is bigger than the current one with a wide range of books and DVDs, rooms for learning and advice sessions, computers and activities and facilities for the whole community.”
The scheme will see Whitehawk Primary School extended with three classrooms, a new dining hall and kitchen and playground. The Roundabout Children’s Centre will also be extended.
The complex will also include the Wellsbourne Health Centre, which is being built at the moment and will be open by spring next year.
The GP surgeries from Broadway Surgery and Whitehawk Medical Practice will be based here, with other NHS services currently based at Whitehawk Clinic due to move into its top floor. There will also be a pharmacy.
The library will be housed in a new building, to include a community cafe, rooms for learning and advice sessions, computers and other activities.
All buildings, subject to planning approval, will have full disabled access and be built to environmentally friendly standards.
The two meetings will be held tomorrow (Wednesday 11 November) at 6pm at the Valley Social Centre and Monday 16 November at 10.30am at Whitehawk Library.
