The future of a long-vacant site in Brighton should become clearer within days, according to a senior councillor.
But the council has been trying to get the basics right at Black Rock before focusing on big ambitions, Labour councillor Jacob Taylor said.
Councillor Taylor was responding to a question from community campaigner Derek Wright asked about Brighton and Hove City Council’s plans for the area which has been empty for 40 years.
Labour councillor Theresa Mackey, who represents Kemptown ward, read out Mr Wright’s question at a meeting of the full council at Hove Town Hall on Thursday (1 October).
Mr Wright asked for the long-term vision for the site, with a timetable for its future use for leisure and events.
He also wanted confirmation that residents, businesses and visitors would be able to shape the strategy through “meaningful public consultation”.
Preparatory work was complete on the former swimming pool site in east Brighton, the meeting was told. It was used as a World Cup fan zone and as an event space in the summer.
But the long-neglected area, just west of Brighton Marina, has not been given the full treatment set out in the £12 million project that was granted planning permission in 2020.
As well as the event space, a new sea wall has been built and the Reading Room and Temple have been weatherproofed but the bicycle pump track has not been built.
Previous proposals for a conference centre and concert hall faltered in 2019 after the former owner of Churchill Square, which was working with the council on the project, called for a pause.
Councillor Taylor, the Labour deputy leader of the council, said that the Seafront Development Prospectus, published earlier this year, outlined a possible future for Black Rock.
But at the moment, he said, the council was focusing on refurbishing railings and some of the shelters to improve the look of the seafront.
Councillor Taylor, who is responsible for regeneration, said: “Every time I visit the seafront, which I do very often with my family and friends, particularly the eastern seafront, I’m convinced more and more that we have an opportunity to create on that stretch of seafront from the Palace Pier to the Marina, one of the most spectacular seafronts in the whole of England.
“Black Rock sits as a vital part of that. You can see all the pieces connecting together. Black Rock is potentially a spectacular venue, moving along to the Reading Room and Temple which are already working brilliantly.
“Then a refurb of Madeira Terraces and, potentially, future plans for Concorde 2 alongside all things already on the seafront like Sea Lanes.”
The council’s cabinet is due to consider a report setting out a long-term vision and a meanwhile use for Black Rock at a meeting next week.
The meeting is due to start at 10.30am on Thursday 15 October at Hove Town Hall and is scheduled to be webcast.
As a resident I am a little disappointed that the project looks abandoned before completion. The road to nowhere is not used much and the hotchpotch surface finish looks much like it did before. The sea defence is impressive but the old one was perfectly fine. The massive pile of spoil is a complete eyesore. I guess that it might be handy to fill in the now defunct excavation in the Marina.
If the spoil was removed and the surface made good it would be simple enough to use part time for parking and at other times for events. The space could be making us money rather than looking like a dump and without massive infrastructure costs.
You can still the the boards with the promises they made with this and that, they should put them down. Councillors dont care about east brighton. They sure got money for other silly things like the railings and center Brighton.
But improve that Blackrock dump is for sure not a priority for them. All lies through and through. But hey, we got an overpriced restaurant with mediocre food where you can wait 1h for a coffee to go and a splendid view over a toilet train station and a new path over the sea front. Aren’t we just lucky!
If this council thinks they have “vision”, they need to go to Specsavers.
This area still looks like an abandoned industrial estate nearly 50 years after Black Rock Lido was lost, allegedly owing to builder negligence when constructing the dog’s dinner known as the Marina, which in the right hands, could have emulated the beauty of Hornfleur, but ended up another wasted opportunity and now blighted with ugly tower blocks.
Hi,
This area in Brighton would be a brilliant site for a contemporary art gallery. Those views should be celebrated.
Sussex art students could volunteer as part of their proffesional practice or find paid work after graduating.
It could be a community hub for young adults and provide opportinities and income for many.
Art exhibitions, and late events in a brilliant setting. A platform for upcoming artists and musicians to express themselves and be seen.
Family and identity led events and tours..
I did read an article, with a gallery, on the Black rock site, or was that a dream?
Those views should be celebrated.
Exciting!!