Plan submitted for new £11 million arts, education and cultural hub near Eastbourne

Plans to develop Black Robin Farm on the downland above Eastbourne will soon be considered by the South Downs National Park Authority.

If the plan is approved, visitors will be able to engage in the cultural heritage of the rolling chalk downland through public artworks with exhibitions, creative activities and courses, artist and maker events and a locally-sourced food and drink offer.

The application follows Eastbourne Borough Council’s (EBC) successful £19.8 million bid to the government’s Levelling Up Fund.

An EBC spokesperson said: “An £11 million investment from these funds will realise the council’s vision to transform the former dairy farm into a new eastern gateway to the South Downs, connecting the iconic landmarks of Beachy Head, Birling Gap, Seven Sisters and Cuckmere Haven.

"Allied to new walking, cycling and sustainable transport routes between the sites, it will provide a coherent visitor offer for the one million national and international visitors to the region each year.”

EBC leader Stephen Holt added: “I feel like we are within touching distance of something really momentous for Eastbourne.”

East Sussex College is also a key partner in this project and will deliver qualifications and 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.

Eastbourne MP Caroline Ansell said: “Black Robin Farm has been re-imagined 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.”

Towner Eastbourne CEO and director Joe Hill added: “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.”

East Sussex College CEO and principal Rebecca Conroy said: “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.”

Black Robin Farm 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.