A series of AI generated images of what parts of the city’s seafront could look like have been published in a bid to get investors to come forward.
Brighton and Hove City Council has published its seafront prospectus, with ideas for what could be done to develop Black Rock, Pool Valley and the Brighton Centre.
It is also looking for investors to help develop future phases of the restoration of Madeira Terrace, the King Alfred redevelopment, Brighton Marina, the Kings Road paddling pool and Kings Road Arches.
The prospectus makes it clear the images are meant to “inspire potential ideas” and don’t represent any current or agreed plans.
Black Rock has been empty for several decades, but has recently been redeveloped to strngthen the sea wall and allow pop-up events, such as the No Fit State Circus which set up its Big Top there for the Brighton Festival.
The prospectus says there is now an opportunity for a “landmark destination” there such as a gallery.
The Brighton Centre is owned by Brighton and Hove City Council. The prospectus says a strategic brief is being prepared to define future use of the site, which it describes as a “remarkable investment opportunity.”
It says “the vision” is to put a bridge from the building to both Churchill Square and the seafront, and invites investors to become stakeholders in the project.
For Brighton Marina, it says the council would like to see 1,000 new homes built there, as well as new retail and leisure development.
Pool Valley is described as an “unloved bus station”, and the prospectus says there’s the potential to transformed it into a public square.
Since the fire at the Royal Albion next door, there hasn’t been any dedicated coach station in the city. The prospectus doesn’t mention any plans for a new one.
The King Alfred project is now underway, with the overall plans for a new leisure centre and 428 homes agreed in principle. The next stage is securing detailed planning permission for the leisure centre’s design, which is due to be considered in the coming months.
The prospectus invites investors for the housing element to come forward, saying “the possibilities here are immense”.
Investors are also invited to come forward for the other end of the seafront, for running spaces under or within the arches of Madeira Terrace, as well as pop-ups and events.
New hospitality spaces at the next two stretches of Kings Road Arches are also mentioned, as is the potential for commercial family leisure facilities at the Kings Road playground.
To read the prospectus, click here.
“The King Alfred project is now underway, with the overall plans for a new leisure centre and 428 homes agreed in principle. The next stage is securing detailed planning permission for the leisure centre’s design, which is due to be considered in the coming months.”
Who agreed this in principle? Names please.
Pre-determination of a live planning application?
It sounds like the council thinks they can buy and borrow their way out of unpopularity at public expense via their unelected Playtown Board.
If so, they can think again.
Nitpicking, but an AI generated image isn’t “an artists impression,” and shame on BHCC for not supporting local creative industries.
The lack of a coach station screams ‘visitors not welcome’. Coaches are more likely to bring valuable overnighter or longer-staying visitors and their higher spend. Each coach carries the equivalent of dozens of cars. Might as well shut the train station too!
Really good shout, considering Pool Valley, and especially in East Brighton which suffers from not having the best of links with the rest of the city, and there’s good opportunities down there which would definitely benefit from the transport links.
Pool Valley is far too important to be used as a ‘bus stop’.
It’s the largest open area inside the lanes and should be a focal point not a car park !
Redeveloping at the same time as the Albion hotel to public space is the best option.
It needs to be the focal point for people visiting the city.
The golden bridge that nobody asked for and which serves no purpose. Why would an investor pay for it – there is no logic. Some of the AI images the council have published are frankly just bizarre!
A bridge from inside a privately owned building\cinema versus the perfectly good current underpass. Makes no sense.
And why they killing the bus station? Seems weird to remove that. Okay, currently location combined with no roundabout means no Westward travel… but still. A seaside town needs a seaside bus station.
More money begging, borrowing and squandering by a council which has not produced full accounts for years. FOI any project for the full and final breakdown and you won’t get it. The figures are never available. A downmaket de warr pavilion, houses on the beach and no coach station plus a crass bridge between the crappy Brighton centre and the beach. This council are out of control. This is a city ‘vision’ which needs to go to Specsavers. Luckily it will never happen as Bella and chums will be out on their ear come the May 2027city elections.