Black Rock regeneration in Brighton

The council is still hoping a major art gallery will eventually be built at Black Rock on Brighton seafront.

Brighton and Hove City Council’s cabinet yesterday approved a five-year project to use the former swimming pool site for sports and leisure – with padel courts the preferred option – when they met at Hove Town Hall yesterday (Thursday 15 October).

But deputy leader Jacob Taylor said the long term ambition was to find a partner to make an art gallery there a reality.

He said: “Black Rock has waited long enough.

“At the heart of what we’re exploring is the potential of creating a nationally or internationally significant cultural destination, ie a major visual art gallery.

“What’s worth noting is that Brighton is one of the country’s creative cities. We have amazing artists who live in the city, an amazing festival annually, amazing architecture and art being produced, but we don’t have a major visual arts gallery.

“It’s quite unusual. When we talk to people nationally, they’re surprised that we don’t have a modern art gallery in the city, but to get to that we need to take a phased approach.

“Work is underway to work towards that long-term ambition of a major art gallery and discussions are underway with national funders, government and with major cultural institutions.”

The temporary measure for up to five years would provide sport and leisure and get people visiting that part of the city, while providing a rental income for the council, Councillor Taylor said.

The preferred bidder has proposed a temporary active leisure and sports facility with padel, fitness, a mental health programme and food and drink. The proposal does not require any further investment from the council.

The second bidder proposes a public beach hub and events space, with food and drink.

Whitehawk and Marina councillor David McGregor said when knocking on doors in the east of the city, people said they felt left behind.

The cabinet member for the economy, culture, heritage and tourism said: “It was very much like ‘the council doesn’t give a monkey’s about us’, we were determined as soon as we started to change that impression.

“Many things have changed that impression. Just look at it along the seafront – the eastern seafront is so much more vibrant and this is going to be the next part of that.

“When we get the art gallery there, it’s a real symbol of our values and our point that we’re not just about the city centre, but the whole seafront and Brighton and Hove as a whole.”

Cabinet member for sports, recreation and libraries, Alan Robins, who has been a councillor for 16 years and was born in the city, said he has heard more visions for Black Rock than he had hot dinners.

Councillor Robins said: “Finally along with things like the King Alfred, we’ve achieved more in four years then we’ve achieved in 20 years, we’re actually looking to do things.

“I remember talk of building a conference centre along there and all sorts of things along there and doing nothing, putting it on a shelf.”

Successive councils have invested approximately £18 million in the regeneration of Black Rock so far.

The money had been spent on diverting utilities, realigning and extending the sea wall, improved coast defences, the 800 metre boardwalk along the beach, and improved walking and cycling connections to Brighton Marina.

Other improvement works in the area include the first phase of restoring Madeira Terraces, the restoration and letting of the Reading Room and Temple building, and the refurbishment of Volks Railway Black Rock Station.

The financial details and identities of the two businesses linked with the temporary use remained confidential.

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