Littlehampton seafront design scheme public consultation (description's to go with images)

The council has been awarded £7,234, 201 Levelling Up Funding from the government to enhance the Littlehampton seafront green.

Plans were originally drawn up for the Littlehampton seafront area in 2016. These were consulted on in 2017. The plans received a high degree of support with some areas requiring further consideration. These included coach parking, shelter, concessions and materials.

The Levelling Up Fund scheme focuses on the area west of, and including, Banjo Road and therefore has a reduced scope and cost from the original scheme.

The council has appointed consultants to take the project forward with designs which create a high quality and welcoming landscape for visitors and the local community. The improvements are intended to attract more visitors to the area and boost the town’s economy.

Description of image

Site location and boundary

The image shows an aerial photograph which outlines the project boundary in red. The red outline begins at the junction of South Terrace with Windmill Road and follows Windmill Road south until it meets the seafront promenade. The line then follows the promenade east until it meets the Stage by the Sea performance space. The boundary line runs north with Stage by the Sea and Banjo Road to the west until it meets South Terrace. It crosses Banjo Road to the west before turning south again and outlines the curve of the existing coach parking area in Banjo Road. The red outline crosses the seafront green in a westerly direction and then runs north when it reaches the pedestrian footpath. Once it meets South Terrace it runs along the north edge of the existing car park before ending at the junction with Windmill Road.

Site analysis

The image shows an aerial photograph of the Littlehampton seafront site between Windmill Road and Banjo Road. There are coloured blocks on the photo which highlight different areas. Harbour Park is shown in blue to the west of Windmill Road. The existing car park is shown in orange to the east of Windmill Road with the adjacent overflow car park located east of the existing and shown in yellow. A square of green shows the open grass area of the seafront green between the car park and Banjo Road. The coach parking area of Banjo Road is highlighted as a rounded purple block. A pink area to the south shows the location of the Stage by the Sea.

The vehicle routes are shown entering the car park from South Terrace which sits north of the site and leaving the car park to the west onto Windmill Road. There are height barriers at these locations. The coach access into Banjo Road is shown off the mini roundabout in South Terrace.  A pedestrian route is shown running between South Terrace to the north and the promenade at the south and sits between the overflow car park and the open grass area.

Buildings within the site are identified. The Harvester pub sits to the south of the main car park and the existing toilet and foreshore building is south-west of here. The coastguard building is located south-west of the toilet block and is closest to the sea.

The image also shows the path of the sun with a dotted line around the south of the site and the direction of the south westerly winds. A band of mounded ground lies between the promenade and the green area.

Photo of existing site

The image is looking south and shows the existing picnic area grass area which is enclosed with a timber fence. In the distance there are trees and built structures along the promenade.

Photo of existing site

The image is looking north and shows the edge of the curved concrete Stage by the Sea structure in a parkland setting. In the background the image shows the tarmac area of the Banjo Road coach park and the houses in South Terrace.

Photo of existing site

The image shows the south side of the existing toilet block. It is a light grey building with a sloped roof. There is a covered area before you enter the building.

Photo of existing site

The image is looking south-west across the Banjo Road coach park which is being used by coaches and mini buses.

The project aims to rejuvenate Littlehampton seafront with a range of new facilities set within an enhanced landscape. The scheme has been designed to feature the following:

• Improved car parking
• New buildings
• Outdoor activities
• Footpaths and seating
• Areas of planting

The designs for the scheme will consider the coastal location and use durable and robust materials.

A more in-depth look at the various parts of the proposed site can be found on the boards which follow.

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Masterplan

The image shows a plan of the new design for the Littlehampton seafront. The plan is numbered as follows. 

Number 1 shows Banjo Road which is accessed from South Terrace. The coach parking has been reconfigured to allow space to the south for tree planting and a marketplace. An outline of the ferris wheel area is shown in the coach parking area.

Number 2 shows the marketplace which is a new site south of the coach parking and north of Stage by the Sea, for visiting market events with pop up power, lighting and 4 fixed units for concessions rental.

Number 3 shows the activity hub which has been located west of the marketplace and Stage by the Sea. It covers a large area of the seafront green and links up with the south-east corner of the car park and the foreshore area to the west. The hub will include activities such as climbing, beach volleyball, boules and seating areas.

Number 4 shows the water play feature between the car park and the seafront promenade and at the west of the activity hub. The water feature will include channels, pools and a small number of jets.

Number 5 shows a pedestrian footpath which runs along the east side of the car park to link the town centre, car park and seafront arrival.

Number 6 shows the car park accessed from South Terrace which is to be resurfaced and reconfigured to join up with the pedestrian entrances and new amenities.

Number 7 shows the location of the new toilet block between the Windmill Theatre and Harbour Park and the new foreshore building to the west of the activity hub. 

Photo showing design inspiration

The image shows low planting on a shingle bed growing among rocks and weathered timber.

Photo showing design inspiration

The image shows a footpath winding through low herbaceous planting which is banked on the right-hand side.  There are trees and bridge structures in the background. In the foreground there is a post with signage.

Photo showing design inspiration

The image shows children playing in a water feature constructed from slabs of rock, with water jets spraying in different directions.

Photo showing design inspiration

The image shows a group of people sitting at a picnic table in a parkland setting.

The car park will combine the existing hard surfaced area with the overflow parking area to create a new and more efficient layout. There will be a small increase in spaces and enhanced pedestrian access routes to the seafront. A location for electric vehicle charging points will be included.

Where possible the design will feature planting and trees in keeping with the seafront’s natural landscape. Tree planting will need to be carefully located to avoid underground sewer pipes which run beneath the site.

Description of image

Car park plan

The image shows the new car park layout with the access from South Terrace and exit onto Windmill Road. The image features a dotted line that shows the area of the existing overflow car park. It is planned that the car park surfacing will be extended to also cover the current overflow grass area to form one large car park. The image shows rows of parking spaces running north-south with pedestrian access routes running west-east to link up with the beach arrival pedestrian. There are a few new trees planted in the car park as well some shrub planting.

Car park sketch

The image shows a sketch of the car park facing the south-east corner towards the activity hub. A pedestrian route through the car park is shown linking with the north-south footpath which leads to the activity hub. There are trees planted between facing car park bays and shrub planting along the edge of the car park.

Photo showing design inspiration

The image shows cars parked with low, informal shrub planting along the edge.

Photo showing design inspiration

The image shows a pedestrian walkway through a car park. The route has lighting bollards and trees on either side.

 

Banjo Road has been reconfigured to enable 16 coaches to park on site. The new layout allows more space to the south for a marketplace with 4 concession buildings and tree planting. The buildings will increase the variety of food or retail stalls offered along the seafront. There is also the opportunity to site temporary market stalls among the trees.

Parking for cars has been re-provided in the main car park. The hard surfaced area is a flexible space which could be used to accommodate a big wheel, events or markets.

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Banjo Road plan

The image shows Banjo Road which is accessed from South Terrace. The access road has 4 spaces for coach parking. The existing curved area to Banjo Road has been reconfigured to a square layout for coach parking and turning areas, with space for another 12 coaches. An outline of the ferris wheel area is shown in the coach parking area. To the south of the coach parking there is a grid of tree planting called a marketplace. To the south of the trees and north of Stage by the Sea there are 4 permanent concession stalls. There is new planting shown along the west side of Banjo Road, with routes through for pedestrians. There are footpaths leading off to the west to link with the activity hub. The Stage by the Sea is shown as being retained.  

Sketch

The image shows a grid of trees with temporary market stalls beneath and the permanent concession units to the south.

Computer generated image

The image shows the concession retail units set between lines of trees. The units will have open fronts displaying menus. There are people standing and walking among them. To the right of the image there are canopies from temporary market stalls.

Photo showing design inspiration

The image shows a grey box structure in a parkland setting being used as a catering unit with a door and serving counter.

Photo showing design inspiration

The image shows a box structure being used as a catering unit. The doors are open and the menu is displayed on the inside of the doors. The open doors also reveal the serving counter and there are groups of people queuing to order drinks.

Photo showing design inspiration

The image shows a Boxpark retail centre as an example of a collection of small retail units. There is a low building with a series of units linked together.

The activity hub aims to attract more visitors to the seafront through the variety of activities on offer. People will be able to explore using a series of accessible footpaths which will weave through large swathes of new planting. Lighting bollards will be incorporated along the main paths to improve security at night.

In the east half of the site visitors will be able to enjoy activities such as beach volleyball, boules or scrambling on the climbing nets. There will also be opportunities for relaxing, having picnics and using the BBQs.

Planting will be chosen to withstand the dry and windy conditions on the seafront, with local species being selected to reflect the coastal environment.

Description of image 

Activity hub (east)

The image shows the activity hub which is located west of the marketplace. There are footpath linking the activities together. The activities shown are climbing nets, beach volleyball and a boules area. Part of the water play also extends into this area. New planting around the edges of lawns creates places to sit.

Sketch

The sketch shows a path winding through a parkland setting with trees and low planting. There is a beach volleyball area to the left of the path and beyond there are water play pools and climbing nets. The image also shows seating and pergola structures.

Photos showing design inspiration

The images show people playing beach volleyball, climbing nets, playing boules, playing on rocks with shallow pools of water and relaxing on a grass lawn.

In the west of the site the design includes new toilets, a foreshore building and a water play feature. The water play will be a series of shallow pools and a small number of jets, with specialist equipment to recycle and clean the water. Sand play could also form part of the feature.

The coastal style planting will extend through this area creating sheltered areas to sit. There will be a variety of seating across the site including benches, picnic tables and pergolas which will provide shade.

Information about the buildings can be found on the next board.

Description of image

Activity hub (west)

The image shows a new toilet block located to the west of the Windmill Theatre and a new foreshore building to the east of the existing shelter. New footpaths east of the foreshore building to lead people through the activity hub to Banjo Road and marketplace, through new planting and picnic areas. A water feature formed of shallow rock pools and jets is the main feature.

Sketch

The sketch shows the water play feature formed from shallow rock pools and water jets. There are trees and grass areas, and the new single storey foreshore building is in the background.

Computer generated image

The image shows the new toilet block which is a narrow single storey white building with a curved end. The end curve extends and is supported by pillars. There is a circular hole in the roof which allows a tree to grow through it.  A circular bench surrounds the tree trunk and there are people sitting on it in the shade. The curved wall of the beach showers is behind the seat. A person is using the water bottle filling station which is set into the wall of the toilet block. A row of colourful toilet cubicle doors (blue, orange, pink, green and yellow) stretches along the side of the building. There are people shown next to the building.

 

New toilet block

The modern design of the new toilet block aims to increase the number of people able to use it and reduce queues. As well as additional toilets it will include 4 larger cubicles for families and a Changing Places facility. This is a larger accessible toilet for disabled people that has specialist equipment, such as hoists and support rails. The building will also have beach showers and a water bottle filling station.

New foreshore building

The council’s Foreshore service and the RNLI will be based in a new building which will provide space to store equipment. The building will also house the land train.

Description of image

Activity hub (west) – buildings

The image shows a plan of the new toilet block. This is a long and narrow single storey building with rounded ends and is based on the shape of the existing concessions building on the promenade. The building is coloured white and has a flat roof. The building has a row of cubicles along each long side which are each accessed by their own brightly coloured doors (green, pink, blue, yellow, orange and purple). There are 26 unisex toilets, 4 family cubicles with baby change units, 2 accessible toilets, 10 urinals, a plant and storage room, a Changing Places facility and beach showers. At the very southern end there is a tree with a circular seat for people to rest in the shade. 

Computer generated image

The image shows the new toilet block set behind a row of trees. The image is a side view of the building which is long and narrow and has 19 cubicle doors in different colours (pink, yellow, green, blue, orange). Behind the toilet block there is another taller building shown with a sloping roof, which is the existing Windmill Theatre. More trees are shown in the distance.

Computer generated image

The image shows the new foreshore building. It is a single storey building with sloping roofs. The exterior walls are clad in vertical timber slats, with windows sitting behind the slats. On the east side of the building there are doors for staff access and for the large stores.

Computer generated image

The image shows the new foreshore building. It is a single storey building with sloping roofs. The exterior walls are clad in vertical timber slats. On the west side of the building there is a slightly lower section with a flat roof which will house the land train. A single door is shown at the south end for train access.

 

As well as water play the design allows for the inclusion of beach volleyball, boules and climbing nets. We want to know if you think this is the right combination of activities.

Depending on cost and available budget it may be possible to choose a different combination of activities. The  full range of options are set out above - the consultation survey asks the public to select four activities.

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Photos showing design inspiration

The top row of images show people playing beach volleyball, climbing nets, playing boules, playing on a half basketball court and playing on outdoor table tennis tables.

The bottom row of images show people playing on rocks with shallow pools of water, using outdoor gym equipment, using giant swings and interacting with play features such as a sunken area and a ground-level trampoline.

Following the public consultation, the results will be collated and presented to the Policy and Finance Committee.

Detailed plans will be drawn up and a planning application submitted.

Work is expected to begin in 2023 and be completed in 2024.

The work will be programmed to minimise disruption during the peak tourist season.

Description of image

Aerial sketch

The image shows an aerial sketch of the whole scheme looking from the south-west corner. The sea, beach and promenade are shown in the right of the image, with the existing concession building located at the edge of the project site. The new toilet block and foreshore are located directly north of the concession building with the existing shelter and pumping station between them. The water play and activity hub are shown east of the foreshore building and are connected with a series of footpaths and lots of new planting. The marketplace and coach park lie further still to the east.

Proposals to transform Littlehampton seafront using a grant of £7,234,201 from the government’s Levelling Up Fund have been unveiled at a council meeting.

The designs show how the site could look once revitalised with highlights of the project including new social spaces for activities such as water play, boules and volleyball, as well as new concessions units to increase the range of food on offer and an area for visiting market events.

Further enhancements are set to include new toilets and beach showers, improvements to the car park, including EV charging points, walkways and new, sustainable planting matched to its coastal setting.

The waterfronts of Littlehampton are its strongest asset and are a key attraction for tourists. Developing and enhancing this area has been identified as a priority for the economic success of the town. In 2017 there was extensive public consultation for proposals to enhance and improve the areas nearest to the seafront. Concept designs were developed by LDA Design who had already designed the award-winning East Bank landscaping scheme and new plans for the town centre Littlehampton’s Public Realm.

It is anticipated the work will begin next year and be completed in 2024. Read the full press release, dated 7 September, here.

It is expected that stakeholder engagement and public consultation will be carried out in October 2022.