Brighton and Hove could have one of the “most spectacular” seafronts in the country in 10 years’ time, a leading councillor said.
The Labour deputy leader Jacob Taylor made the comment in a debate on Brighton and Hove City Council’s plans to create a prospectus through its Seafront Development Board.
The board consists of three councillors – Julie Cattell, Birgit Miller and Councillor Taylor – and nine others including people with experience in the leisure industry, retail and development.
The prospectus would set out an ambition for the seafront and list sites for development to attract investment, not just from private companies but also from arts organisations and the government.
After a public consultation event with 100 residents at the Brighton Centre, the council published a survey asking people how they use the seafront at the moment.
The survey asks what needs improving and what ambitious things residents want to see.
At the council’s Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday (24 March), Councillor Taylor said: “I think we have one of the better seafronts in the country.
“There are various pieces in the jigsaw of our seafront that could mean in 10 years we genuinely have the most spectacular seafront in England with some of the things other places don’t have – a set of assets and attractions that make it genuinely unique and exciting.”
He said that the long-derelict Black Rock site was ready to redevelop. Before then, the empty site was due to host No Fit State Circus during the Brighton Festival and the World Cup fan zone in the summer.
Community works representative Mark Strong raised concerns about Brighton Marina, saying that national and international chains had closed branches there.
Since Las Iguanas closed in July 2020, other brands to shut more recently have included the Rendezvous Casino, Pizza Hut and, last month, Five Guys.
Mr Strong said: “The Marina is quite desolate and the only shop that is there is another multinational, which is Asda.
“Obviously, from a Chamber of Commerce point of view, we want to be looking at local businesses, trying to keep the money in a circular economy, rather than just going out to multinationals.”
The council’s director of place Max Woodford said that, although the council owned the freehold, there were leaseholders who were represented on the Seafront Development Board.
He said: “They’re really interested in the work that the seafront board is doing, what will happen at Black Rock and what will happen with Madeira Terraces – that whole process of drawing people along that seafront and better tying the Marina into the seafront.
“At the moment, it feels like you get to the end of the seafront and the Marina’s almost like an edifice that people won’t go to on foot, they go to by car, which obviously we don’t want to encourage.”
Labour councillor Birgit Miller, the council’s cabinet member for culture, heritage and tourism, said that the Marina was working in partnership with the council and holding off plans until there was a “direction of travel” for Black Rock.
Councillor Miller said: “Their main concern would have been not to duplicate what we’re doing and instead they want to complement work with us.”
“It is on their radar and ours that this should not be a dying area of the city or a boundary. They’ve got some really interesting plans and they need to know how those fit in with Black Rock. It could be a really exciting part of the city ultimately.”
Conservative councillor Anne Meadows asked whether the redevelopments and improvements would be free for residents to enjoy rather than attractions with, for example, entry charges.
Councillor Meadows said: “Attractions will be there for those wealthier residents but not for all local residents and that concerns me so is it just capitalising?”
Councillor Taylor said that the seafront was a “largely free attraction” in itself and will remain so although there were and would continue to be paid-for attractions.
Brighton and Hove Independent councillor Mark Earthey, who represents Rottingdean and West Saltdean, said that the undercliff contributed “an enormous amount” to active travel.
But there was a continuing battle with shingle from storms covering the path – and volunteers armed with shovels and wheelbarrows clearing up.
Councillor Earthey asked whether the council would consider investing in equipment to keep the undercliff clear as part of the process of improving the seafront.
Councillor Taylor said that the area east of the Marina was unlikely to have any larger schemes although smaller sports facilities and cafés could be “unlocked”.
The consultation – Tell Us What You Think of the Seafront – is open until Thursday 30 April on the council website.