Eastbourne Town Centre Regeneration Project Reduced Amid Cost Increases

The scope of plans to enhance Eastbourne town centre is being narrowed due to escalating expenses. On Monday, Claire Dowling, East Sussex County Council’s lead member for transport and environment, consented to “descope” the town centre improvement initiatives, specifically by eliminating proposals for a new civic space on Terminus Road. The initial stage of the undertaking, which encompassed significant upgrades to the vicinity of the town’s railway station and the Beacon Shopping Centre, concluded in 2020. According to a report presented to Ms Dowling, project officials indicated that the initiative had encountered “significant unexpected budget increases” since its funding was initially secured in 2019. These increases were attributed to escalating inflation and particular cost surges within the construction industry, as detailed in the report. The overall budget allocated for the project exceeds £6m, with nearly £2.5m already expended, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Officers stated that the remaining financial allocation was insufficient to execute all elements outlined in the initial proposals. The subsequent phase was anticipated to involve further pedestrianisation of Terminus Road, alongside the establishment of the new civic space. This would have necessitated the closure of a one-way road segment linking Bolton Road with Langney Road. Eastbourne councillor David Tutt expressed that he was “somewhat surprised and wrong-footed” upon reviewing the report. At the meeting, Mr Tutt urged Ms Dowling to postpone her decision, contending that the council should allow residents and businesses more input regarding the project’s future direction. However, officers cautioned that a postponement might necessitate additional modifications to the project if costs continued their upward trend. Ms Dowling commented: “My concern is, if we do what has been suggested … if and when it comes back we might not be able to afford what we are doing now. “What we are doing at the moment is we are looking to complete the first bit.“That bit is desperate for regeneration. It is so desperate and to hold it up, I think, would be a mistake.”