Eastbourne Borough Council has received a £19.8 million investment in the town from the government’s Levelling Up Fund.

The funding will support town centre regeneration and revitalise the visitor economy with:

• £7.623 million ... to convert Victoria Place into a vibrant, pedestrianised cultural district, including new green energy infrastructure, with awnings, lighting and heating; with excellent independent cafés and restaurants serving high quality, locally sourced food and drink all year round, also developing a night-time economy.
   
• £11.186 million ... to create a world-class culture and education centre at Black Robin Farm, a former dairy farm set on the Downs above the town, connecting the SDNP with the town centre and seafront and providing a new destination for around 100,000 visitors per year, space for new businesses and work placements for young people during both the construction and operational phases.
   
• £1.037 million ... investment in the Towner’s Centenary project, creating a number of legacy public artworks across the town that will provide an arts trail connecting the seafront, town centre and South Downs National Park (SDNP), as well as enhancing gallery facilities to support the education and outreach programmes that will engage strongly with some of Eastbourne’s most disadvantaged communities.

Lewes District Council celebrated the announcement of £12.86 million from Government's Levelling Up Fund will be given to help re-establish Newhaven as a maritime centre of excellence and support the fishing industry.

‘Capturing the Value of the Catch’, the scheme submitted by the council, will:

• Provide two new fish landing stages to accommodate 16 small vessels from the Newhaven fishing fleet
   
• Build a new Centre of Excellence for seafood processing in the town including an auction room and marketplace
   
• Create a new restaurant and community destination on the promenade area by West Beach to retain spending in Newhaven for longer and stimulate a local market for fish

Hastings’ Town Investment Plan, which laid out proposals for Town Deal funding and a further £85m of match funding, has been approved. This has secured Hastings’ £24.3 million share of the overall £3.6 billion offered through the Towns Fund.

Projects include:

• Enterprise & Employment Infrastructure Development of 5657m2 of new employment space increasing the amount of shared workspace to 1957m2. The creation of 78 new business start ups, three new learning and training facilities and 253 jobs.
   
• Green Low Carbon Skills & Economy
  Development of three new regional skills hubs delivering 27 new courses within 1070m2 of new state of the art educational training facilities and 200m2 of commercial floorspace. A cohort of 565 students will be taught per year with 215 students gaining qualifications. The creation of 17 new jobs.
   
• Hastings Castle World Heritage Destination
  A major heritage landmark will be transformed to include a new visitor hub, creating 24 new jobs and an increase to 250,000 visitors per year to the town. Plus, an increase in the use of the funicular lift to 30,000 per year.
   
• Town to Sea Creative Quarter
  The creation of three inter-connected cultural and community assets and 700m2 of new commercial space, 16 Homes, 200m2 of improved public spaces, and access to new wellbeing services and facilities. The creation of 58 new jobs.
   
• Town Centre Core
  A new commercial leisure centre (7,325m2); and the transformation and repurposing of a shopping centre and underutilised retail spaces; a mixed-use development of 167 dwellings and other leisure and cultural facilities.

£19.3m awarded to Newhaven Town Deal

The Newhaven Town Deal bid has been awarded to the Newhaven Town Deal board, marking it as a 'landmark moment' for the town's legacy and future.

Five Core Themes Behind The Deal

A thriving and vital southern gateway for the UK
As it states in the report This is Newhaven - Our town investment plan, 'A thriving Port reflects a thriving town. As a gateway to the continent in this post-Brexit world, Newhaven has a fabulous opportunity to re-position itself as a key southern gateway to the UK. We are also a key southern gateway to the South Downs National Park, ensuring that outdoor health and leisure opportunities are available for all our residents to maximise quality of life' Celebrating the energy of industry Leading with the Newhaven Enterprise Zone, and moving into the centre and beyond, Newhaven is the economic growth capital of Lewes District with new investment and growth. With the Town Deal, they are able to build on that 'energy', building economic strength to deliver 'positive change', jobs and build up the community. Valuing creative freedom For makers, by makers. Newhaven has an artistic history and lineage of makers, including the recent creation of Maker Meetings. Bringing vitality to the area, the Town Deal plans to harness and support existing activity into a new dynamic coastal location, bridging Brighton and Eastbourne together along the Creative Coast. Re-imagining the town centre as a focus for community life The Town Deal aims for Newhaven Town Centre to be the heart of the community, offering retail and services that serve residents and encourage spending locally over losing revenue to other destinations. Making the most of the town’s maritime heritage. Wanting to address its heritage, the Town Deal wants to embrace it's marine heritage as the river and sea play an signficiant role in Newhaven. Building on opportunities that Newhaven can offer, they want to connect investment into creating a sustainable marine industry and build upon investment such as the emerging 'Maritime and Sustainable Technologies Hub'.