What is happening at Black Robin Farm, the high-profile plan for a cultural and education centre on the South Downs above Eastbourne?
It is nearly two years since Eastbourne Borough Council secured £19.8 million in Levelling Up funding towards this scheme and others – and the deadline for spending the money is less than six months away.
Concerns are being raised about how a potential 100,000 visitors a year would reach the rural site while preserving the protected national park environment.
The way has finally been cleared for a planning application to be submitted for the Black Robin Farm project.
About £10 million of the Levelling Up funding is thought to be earmarked for the centre on a 1,000-acre site at the former dairy farm near Beachy Head.
Eastbourne Borough Council secured £19,847,287 towards the regeneration of the town in December 2021, when it was noted in an officers’ report to the Cabinet: “There is a need to move at pace since the Levelling Up Fund award must be spent by March 2024 in line with Government guidance.”
The South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) has, crucially, decided the plan does not need an Environmental Statement.
This is a big hurdle removed from the development of the site in a secluded valley, which is thought likely to attract up to 100,000 visitors a year.
The authority stated in planning documents that the change of use from a farm with no public access to an attraction bringing in thousands of visitors “is considered not significant in EIA [environmental impact assessment] terms”.
However, the authority recognises that road traffic is likely to be the main source of pollution.
But it says the limited number of parking spaces – just 47 for the public, including five for blue badge holders – will “help regulate visitor numbers and activity levels”. A total of 16 staff car parking spaces, including four blue badge bays, will also be provided.
The SDNPA has said better public transport and walking routes should “increase the dispersal of existing visitors over a wider area and encourage more sustainable forms of access”.
The Eco Action view
Andy Durling, executive director of Eastbourne Eco Action Network, would like to see planners think differently and consider not allowing visitor parking at all for private cars.
He has visited the farm and told Eastbourne Reporter: “It’s such a gorgeous site and they have some really good plans for converting some of the derelict barns. It will transform the site into a magnificent public asset.”
However, he warned that there are currently no safe cycle routes away from traffic – and he has cycled up to the site.
Mr Durling (above) also urged planners to accept that there would be too many cars if they do not put in place a clear transport plan.
“They might be missing an opportunity to think outside the box and have no visitor car spaces at all, aside from blue badge holders,” he added.
Buildings on the farm currently include four holiday cottages, a milking parlour, stables and barns. Among the new buildings proposed are an art gallery and creative space, to be run by the Towner gallery, and catering facilities.
What about transport?
The SDNPA was scathing in its response in July to a 328-page environmental screening report prepared for Eastbourne Borough Council by consultants Temple Group.
Naomi Langford, the authority’s major projects officer, said there was too much reliance “on a generic approach” to mitigating the effects of the development.
In the response, she also said a plan to rely on public transport, bike hire and electric car charging might only deal with about half the visitor capacity.
Ms Langford wrote: “No commitments have been set out to test the effectiveness of any sustainable travel initiatives on the likely significant effect of transport activity at the site and in the local area… Vague references to discussions taking place and changes happening in the future in relation to sustainable travel are insufficient for these purposes.”
Impact on the Downs
Keen walker and conservationist Simon Hurt submitted a response on the authority’s planning portal, raising concerns about what measures would be taken to mitigate the impact on a rural area.
Mr Hurt, a retired Eastbourne Borough Council employee, wrote: “The change of use from quiet farm to urbanised tourist attraction is quite profound for a site surrounded by nationally and internationally recognised scenery and habitat.
“The major flaw in the report is that it deals very little with the impact on the land beyond the development site boundary.
“This may well satisfy the regulations but in doing so it perpetuates the ‘business-as-usual’ mentality that continues to prevail despite proclamations of ‘climate emergency’ and carbon neutral pledges.”
A full planning application is due to be submitted by Eastbourne Borough Council to the SDNPA.
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The ‘investingineastbourne’ website just gives a number of bullet points as to the proposed use of Black Robin Farm, no details. The ‘latest news’ section just states ‘ Summer 2023 update coming soon’. It will be interesting to see actual detailed plans, and if there is a projected profit to be reinvested in the rest of the town.
I share Lionel Moth’s concerns about public transport overload.
I have also looked at the proposed images of the new buildings and their roof lines are not in keeping with the other sheep farm barns on the Downs. They are brutal compared to the soft, traditional lines and will look like a gash on the landscape.
Good observation. I fully expect this so-called development to be a disaster. The Beachy Head Story further up the road has been immediately shut down as a consequence of the new austerity, yet there’s millions of £s available for this entirely questionable project which certainly will not benefit the town or the Downs.