Residents and councillors pack out Third Chichester Festival of Ideas

A large crowd of local residents, councillors and visiting specialists filled Chichester’s Third Festival of Ideas, turning an afternoon of stalls, talks and hands-on activities into a genuine community conversation about the city's future.

The annual event, held at 104, The Hornet, comprised  “Market Place of Ideas" in the afternoon and an evening panel of experts.

During Saturday afternoon visitors explored more than 15 information and activity stands, learning about everything from harbour conservation and water quality to regenerative farming and walkable and cycle friendly neighbourhoods. The event attracted councillors from both Chichester District Council and West Sussex Council who chatted with residents, stallholders and speakers.

Stalls showcased the Chichester Harbour Conservancy's Fishbourne Footpath and Nature Recovery Project, Final Straw's work on water quality and beach cleans, and the successful Harbour Oysters project. Langstone Harbour shared the story of its Ghost Boats while students from the University of Portsmouth's architecture department, led by John Pegg, shared their visions of Chichester.

Other stalls included a new community built on a brewery site in Suffolk, the Really Regenerative Centre, the Manhood Peninsula Partnership, Medmerry Nature Reserve, Save Our South Coast Alliance (SOSCA), Westminster Live Projects, coastal cities research, and sustainability and natural capital. Chichester's twin cities of Ravenna and Speyer were also represented.

Visitors of all ages got hands-on at the interactive stands. Christophe Egret invited people to map their dreams for Chichester, the Giant Dolls' House Project explored dreams and landscape, and Dr Tarek Teba led a conversation on the history and memory of place between Chichester and Fishbourne.

Throughout the afternoon, a programme of short presentations ran alongside the stalls. Dr Catja de Haas opened proceedings, followed by Jenny Anderson on the Really Regenerative Centre, Cany Ash on walkable neighbourhoods, and William Fleming on regenerative farming. John Pegg and Christophe Egret explored coastal cities, student work as a catalyst for change, and mapping. Lottie Johns presented Harbour Oysters, and Dr Alkhani closed the afternoon with a talk on the challenges and opportunities facing smaller UK coastal towns and cities.

The day concluded with a wrap-up panel from 5.00 to 7.00 PM, chaired by Dr Carolyn Cobbold. Speakers included Dr Catja de Haas, Jay Morton (RIBA President Elect and Architects for Affordable Housing), Anna Perkins of Langstone Harbour, Maria Kramer of Westminster University's Live Projects, and Natalie Lindsay, Trustee of the London Cycling Campaign and Cabinet Lead for active travel in Hammersmith & Fulham.

Panellists shared practical lessons on community development, affordable housing, active travel and collaborative design, giving residents and councillors real-world examples to draw on locally.

“The amazing turnout and energy in the room showed that there is a real appetite in Chichester for community-involved thinking on sustainability, housing, nature recovery and active travel,” said Festival organiser Catja de Haas adding that “it showed both the breath of community initiatives and the solutions and expertise available.”