ENGLAND.- Towner Eastbourne, in partnership with Eastbourne Borough Council (EBC), plans to create a world-class culture and education centre in the unique landscape of the South Downs National Park. Its vision is to transform lives by connecting communities and visitors with the outstanding nature, landscape and cultural heritage of the downlands for health and wellbeing. The building design, by architects Feilden Fowles, has just been submitted for planning approval. The submission of a planning application follows Eastbourne Borough Council's successful £19.8 million bid to the government's Levelling Up Fund.
As a new eastern gateway to the South Downs, this landscape-led project will act as a catalyst to connect the Sussex Heritage Coast's iconic landmarks of Beachy Head, Birling Gap, Seven Sisters and Cuckmere Haven. With new walking, cycling and sustainable transport routes between the sites, it will provide a coherent visitor offer for the 1 million national and international visitors to the region each year.
Black Robin Farm will offer a new destination for 100,000 visitors annually within five years, revitalising Eastbourne's visitor economy and bringing sustainable growth to the town and East Sussex. Visitors will engage in the cultural heritage of the rolling chalk downland through public artworks in the landscape, exhibitions, creative activities and courses, artist and maker events and a high quality, locally sourced and sustainable food and drink offer.
In partnership with East Sussex College Group, Towner will also deliver qualifications and skills training for young adults to support career development in the creative, leisure and tourism sectors. It will also provide artists opportunities through commissions, residencies, showcasing and workspace. With the Coastal Schools Partnership and community partners, it will also deliver creative activities and teacher CPD encompassing natural materials, nature, ecology and food production for children and young people to grow confidence, build skills and improve life outcomes.
East Sussex College is a key partner in this project and will deliver qualifications and skills training for young adults to support career development in the creative, leisure and tourism sectors. Towner will also provide artists opportunities through commissions, residencies, showcasing and workspace.
Joe Hill, CEO and Director, Towner Eastbourne, said:"We are delighted to be leading on this project with Eastbourne Borough Council - it will allow us to deliver an ambitious artistic and educational programme situated in - and around - the nineteenth century dairy farm set in the stunning and unique landscape of the South Downs National Park.
Our ambition is to ensure genuinely inclusive access to art and culture through artist commissions and other professional development opportunities, skills development initiatives and creative engagement programmes for children and adults; especially those from Eastbourne's most disadvantaged communities. Our vision is to change lives through high quality creative and cultural experiences that raise aspirations, change career directions and improve life outcomes."
Councillor Stephen Holt, Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, said: "The government quickly identified the incredible opportunities within the council's bid and so to now see that ambition translated into stunning images of what could follow, is hugely exciting for me.
I would also like to thank Joe Hill and his team at Towner Eastbourne for helping to spearhead this project. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a brilliant team providing the future heartbeat of what Black Robin Farm is set to become. I feel like we are within touching distance of something really momentous for Eastbourne."
Rebecca Conroy, Principal and CEP of East Sussex College, said:"East Sussex College is delighted to be part of this project that will transform Black Robin Farm into a truly spectacular and inspiring learning venue. We are particularly pleased that all partners are committed to promoting environmental sustainability through the design and build elements of this new arts and culture centre as this really chimes with the College's values and development of green technology."
Once planning permission is granted, the next step is to work with key stakeholders and communities to deliver the project's vision over the next four years. This will allow the communities surrounding Black Robin Farm to address and celebrate Eastbourne's identity, increasing pride and raising aspirations, and convey its unique heritage to visitors.
The redevelopment of Black Robin Farm will demonstrate leadership in the environmental sustainability of new art and culture projects. It is being designed and built with a commitment to achieve a Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) Excellent rating, with an ambition to reach carbon neutrality by 2030, whilst also achieving biodiversity net gain across the site.
Caroline Ansell, MP for Eastbourne, added:"This little known disused dairy farm in Eastbourne, nestled in the most downland glorious setting, is about to be transformed thanks to the Government's Levelling Up Fund. Part of a successful £20 million bid to the fund, Black Robin Farm has been reimagined as a top attraction to energise our visitor economy and to act as a place of learning and training for our children and young people. It will bring new apprenticeships, new jobs, new visitors, new recognition and new prosperity for our town."
Fergus Feilden, Director, Feilden Fowles, said:"The location of the new arts centre within the South Downs in breath-taking. We have taken a retrofit approach to preserve the character and distinctiveness of the Sussex landscape. It is our ambition to create a world-class centre for education, culture, heritage and the environment, and to make a building of lasting value which is rooted in its place."
