Cabinet members at Brighton & Hove City Council are set to discuss proposals this week to help secure and strengthen the long-term future of the city’s seafront.
They will be asked to approve a £4 million contribution towards a £41 million funding bid to the Department for Transport for phases 6 and 7 of the A259 Seafront Arches Renewal Programme.
If successful, the funding would be used to repair and strengthen 38 more seafront arches supporting the A259 King’s Road. Phases 6 and 7 would focus on the arches to the east of Shelter Hall.
Work will be getting underway on phases 4 and 5 of the project in the next few weeks following a successful bid for £22 million and £3.9 million council contribution earlier this year.
Councillor Trevor Muten, Cabinet member for Transport and City Infrastructure, said:
If approved, this would be an extremely important funding bid that would help secure our seafront for decades to come.
“King’s Road is one of the busiest roads in the city and is a key route for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians. Investing to ensure it remains safe and working is vital for Brighton & Hove.
“If successful, the grant funding will bring about significant benefits, but I recognise that it will also bring disruption to those businesses currently using the arches. We’ll proactively communicate and engage with them to ensure any work and transition is managed and the venues which contribute so much to the visitor economy are supported.”
“This is more than just an infrastructure project. Renewing the arches is an opportunity to keep our seafront a vibrant place for residents, visitors and the local businesses who use it.
King’s Road carries an average of more than 25,000 vehicles and 2,100 cyclists a day.
Surveys have found they’re in urgent need of replacing to avoid collapse, which would close the road and make the area unusable.
Phase 4 of the project is focusing on the area between the bandstand and the i360. Phase 5 will move to the area west of Shelter Hall.
Once completed, it would make the arches and road above it safe and usable for the next 100 years and provide a new and improved space for local businesses.
The first phase created shops and new public toilets from 26 arches. The first shops in the rebuilt arches opened in summer 2014 and the scheme won a Sussex Heritage Trust Award for outstanding conservation work.
Phase 2, from the Regency Square subway to the Metropole Hotel, saw the strengthening of a further 33 arches between The Seahorse restaurant and the West Pier.
Phase 3 saw the creation of Shelter Hall, new public toilets located on the lower promenade, with a new walkway and sea wall.
