We have been asking what is most important to local people about Eastbourne seafront, including what they would like to see change or stay the same over the next 25 years.
Latest update: We are holding a series of Seafront Strategy workshops from Monday 2 June to Friday 6 June 2025 - find out more below.
What's the project about?
We have been asking for your help to create a vision for Eastbourne Seafront for the next 25 years. We want a vision that will help revitalise the town have a lasting positive impact on the environment and wellbeing of local people now and for future generations.
Whether it's wellbeing, entertainment, food and drink, accessibility, a clean environment, personal safety, activities, culture, heritage, water quality, opportunities for young people, or anything else, we want to know what's important to you now and what will be important to you over the next 25 years.
Map of the current seafront
Drop-in workshops - June 2025
Last year we ran a survey and series of workshops to capture the thoughts and feedback of as many people as possible. This included local people, businesses, visitors and partners. We are now holding a further series of workshops to share the draft vision and invite further feedback.
Join one of our upcoming workshops to discuss the outcomes from the summer consultation and the vision moving forward.
All workshops will take place at Eastbourne Town Hall on the following dates:
Monday 2nd June from 2pm to 3.30pm (fully booked)
Tuesday 3rd June from 11am to 12.30pm (fully booked)
Wednesday 4th June from 11am to 12.30pm (fully booked)
Thursday 5th June from 6pm to 7.30pm (early evening session) (both fully booked)
Friday 6th June from 10am to 11.30am (fully booked)
1. Why do we need a Seafront Strategy for Eastbourne?
The economic and social significance of the seafront to local residents, visitors and businesses makes it vital that we have a clear strategy for the future of the seafront.
The Seafront Strategy will set out a vision for how we want the seafront to be in the future. It will provide a framework to inform any decision-making in relation to the seafront. The strategy be visionary, but at the same time deliverable, particularly in the short term.
A strategy for the future of the seafront is important due to our on-going work on the Pevensey Bay to Eastbourne Coastal Management Scheme. The type and scale of the coastal defences needed to protect Eastbourne from coastal flooding over the next 100 years are likely to result in significant changes to Eastbourne seafront.
When ready, the strategy will inform the Environment Agency about how we want the seafront to look, feel and function in future. This can then be taken into account in designing coastal defences.
The Seafront Strategy will also seek to address other issues such as long-term decisions on:
land management on the seafront and lease renewals,
securing viable uses to secure the long-term future of heritage assets, and
understanding whether sites should be considered for development and what contribution this development can make to the future of the seafront.
2. What geographical area will the strategy cover?
The strategy will cover the area within the borough boundary from Pinnacle Point by Bedes School, to Sovereign Harbour. It will mainly concentrate on the seafront promenade and immediate surroundings, to the south of the B2106 (Dukes Drive, King Edwards Parade, Grand Parade, Marine Parade, Royal Parade, Prince William Parade) including the row of buildings immediately adjacent to the seafront.
3. What will the Seafront Strategy include?
The Seafront Strategy will cover a 25-year period from 2025 to 2050, and will include:
A high-level vision for what we want the seafront to be by 2050
An outline for how things could change
Ways to address significant seafront-related issues
Early-stage proposals for key seafront assets
An initial action and implementation plan looking at actions that should be progressed in the short-term, medium-term and long-term, including how they could be funded.
4. What are the stages of creating the Seafront Strategy?
Stage one: Conversations on Issues, Challenges and Opportunities - Through engagement with residents, businesses, visitors and partners, we will understand what they like and dislike about Eastbourne Seafront, what they would like to change, and how they would see the seafront in 2050. Timeframe: July to September 2024.
Stage two: Vision and Options - using information gathered during stage one, a clear vision for the seafront and options for how this vision might be achieved will be created. We will then carry out further engagement to invoice feedback on the proposed options. Timeframe: early 2025.
Stage three: Setting the Strategy - using feedback from stages one and two, we will draft a strategy for the seafront over spring and early summer 2025. We will then carry out a further round of public consultation for final feedback over summer 2025 before it is adopted in autumn 2025. Timeframe: summer to autumn 2025.
