Menu
Hastings & St. Leonards on-line community newspaper

An innovative contemporary eco-house by Past Systems proposed for St Leonards

So Create A Difference!

Do you want to get more involved in the architectural and planning process for Hastings that will shape the town’s future?  In particular are you interested in the future of the seafront, which is subject of a current consultation process by Hastings Borough Council? Hastings Urban Design Group (HUDG) and Hastings Trust are following up on the popular ‘pop-up’ exhibition of imaginative architectural designs for sites throughout Hastings and St Leonards with a  seminar, writes HOT’s Chris Cormack.

In April, RIBA South East and the HUDG hosted a one-day pop-up exhibition in the Priory Meadow shopping centre. Altogether, over a thousand local people have visited the exhibition and many have commented on the designs shown and suggested other development possibilities. The designs and some photos taken on the pop-up day can be found on the website.

A temporary cycle store installation to coincide with Coastal Currents but refused planning permission

Following the success of the exhibition,  a PDF book of the exhibits will be published on-line, and an open seminar is being hosted by HUDG and Hastings Trust. This ought to give some sign-posting on how developers, local residents, amenity societies and the Borough Council might learn from the exercise.

Many of the proposals in the exhibition and ideas put forward by local residents were centred on the seafront. Hastings Council has just published an updated draft seafront strategy, now part of a public consultation that finishes at the end of October. The seminar would be useful to air views on the future of the seafront and refine these for the consultation. The pop-up exhibition included design ideas for Bottle Alley, the Ladies Parlour, a St Leonards Bathing Pool and various other spaces, covering all along the seafront – to view these visit the display at the Hastings Trust shop at 34 Robertson Street.

beachshops, workshops and studios proposed for bottle alley

Outside speakers should help to give a wider perspective to the discussion. These outside speakers include Architect, James Galpin’s practice, HMY, which is based in Tunbridge Wells, London and Canterbury. HMY specialise in education, workplace, masterplanning and also in PassivHaus residential projects. James, chairman of the West Kent branch RIBA 2005-2012, is a regular judging panel member for the RIBA Awards and the Stirling Prize shortlisting process. James is also known as jimjam_arch on twitter. James was the leading light in a previous similar exhibition held in Tunbridge Wells in 2013.

Another guest is urbanist Rob Cowan, the UK’s most experienced urban design trainer and author of design guidance. He was the joint author of the government’s design guidance, By Design, and the author of three design guides for the Scottish Government. He is director of the consultancy, UDS and editor of Context. His many publications include The Dictionary of Urbanism and a book of cartoons, Plandemonium, and he presents the Plandemonium series of videos.

Chairman of HUDG, Chris Lewcock, commented that “Given the level of interest generated by the pop up exhibition and its further display in the Hastings Trust shop, we expect a lively evening of debate about urban design issues. We are very pleased that two leaders in the field are coming to help lead our discussions”.

Review Seminar : 30 September 2014 19.30 – 21.30 at the Assembly Rooms, East Ascent, St.Leonards-on-Sea, TN38 0DR. It will follow immediately after a General Meeting of the Hastings Trust. However, you don’t need to be a Hastings Trust Member to attend the seminar! 

Peter Taylor ideas for West St Leonards

 

If you’re enjoying HOT and would like us to continue providing fair and balanced reporting on local matters please consider making a donation. Click here to open our PayPal donation link. Thank you for your continued support!

Posted 17:01 Tuesday, Sep 9, 2014 In: Home Ground

2 Comments

  1. patricia stephenson

    Bottle Alley is an important part of this town….iconic maybe – but the problem is that it has been allowed to slowly rot and decay – (a not uncommone event sad to say) – the concrete structure needs attention and the idea of a market hall of crafts and artists/musicians etc would be great..but it will take shed loads of money to bring this sad old structure up to scratch.

    Comment by patricia stephenson — Sunday, Sep 21, 2014 @ 17:51

  2. Claudine Eccleston

    A little rant…… So Create a Difference has some really lovely pretty and sometimes innovative ideas about transforming mainly Hastings and the occasional little ditty for St Leonards. I think they are missing a trick. It was quite lovely being on the front yesterday and seeing all the hundreds of people come and go to and from the Old Town. Elevated bike lanes and multicoloured buildings that sell us things we all love but dont need are all very well but more stuff for St Lens is whats needed. I dont expect SoCAD to be the answer to our prayers either. They do what they do and sometimes hold a mirror up for the community. What really gets my goat is the Bottle Alley thing….

    I really do not like this idea and turning it into a private beach chalet thing for folk with money. Bottle Alley should be revived into a market hall of crafts and street food……… a performance space for buskers, it should be looked after and cherished not left to be a toilet for street drinkers, love a bit of street drinking meself but really…… Bottle Alley is a lovely place to sit and view the sea, to huddle up in and have a chat, not some private space or no go area. Come on Hastings Council, lead by example. It was bad enough allowing the fish and chip shop on the front to be built with a roof that ruins the view from Warrior Square and those shit signs along the front…….. got no issues with the fish and chip shop it must be said. but do we really need a load of tatty signs?

    Comment by Claudine Eccleston — Monday, Sep 15, 2014 @ 15:03

Also in: Home Ground

«
»
More HOT Stuff
  • SUPPORT HOT

    HOT is run by volunteers but has overheads for hosting and web development. Support HOT!

    ADVERTISING

    Advertise your business or your event on HOT for as little as £20 per month
    Find out more…

    DONATING

    If you like HOT and want to keep it sustainable, please Donate via PayPal, it’s easy!

    VOLUNTEERING

    Do you want to write, proofread, edit listings or help sell advertising? then contact us

    SUBSCRIBE

    Get our regular digest emails

  • Subscribe to HOT