Multi-million pound refurbishment of Bexhill Town Hall to be explored

Next Monday (February 8), Rother District Council cabinet members are set to consider giving their backing to a £460,000 project, which could lead to the redevelopment of Bexhill Town Hall and the surrounding area. 

The final scheme would be expected to provide housing (likely in the form of 14 flats) as well as a climate-friendly refurbishment of the existing town hall building.

In a report to cabinet, a council officer said: “The main core of the Town Hall building is over 120 years old. The costs involved with heating the premises are particularly high as the overall heating system is outdated. 

“Whilst some investment has taken place in recent years for the purposes of meeting statutory safety requirements, the building is in need of modernisation and refurbishment.”

The report added: “The existing Town Hall is clearly an asset of historical significance for Bexhill and therefore all scenarios explored sought to retain and refurbish the core elements of the existing property. 

“It is also clear that the carbon performance of the existing buildings is very poor and needs to be a consideration for any works that we seek to undertake.”

If given the backing of cabinet members, funding for the project will require approval through a full council vote. 

Officers say the £460,000 budget would be expected to cover the costs of developing detailed plans for the site as well as gaining planning permission for the final scheme. 

Based on current estimates, officers say the final scheme would be expected to cost somewhere in the region of £13m to £14m.

According to officers, the council would aim to ensure any redevelopment project would be “revenue neutral” as well as providing new housing.

Both the new buildings and the refurbishment would also be expected to meet stringent environmental standards – with the flats expected to meet to be rated as excellent under BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method).

The redevelopment would be expected to come alongside wider changes for the area, as East Sussex County Council is considering the creation of a green plaza at the front of the Town Hall.

According to Rother District Council, these plans are subject to consultation but have already been funded to £1.3m through a combination of Local Growth Fund and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) monies.

If funding is for the refurbishment project is approved, a full development options report will be brought forward at a future cabinet meeting. Any scheme will also need to go through the planning process.