FAQs
Why are you consulting on regeneration plans for New Brighton?
The Council’s Draft Local Plan has identified New Brighton as a priority area for regeneration in recognition of its potential as a high-quality mixed-use visitor destination and sustainable community.
To help shape the future of the areas, the Council is developing a Neighbourhood Framework for New Brighton and a detailed Masterplan for Marine Promenade (the area extending from the Floral Pavilion to the corner of Marine Promenade/Rowson Street).
What is the difference between a Neighbourhood Framework and a Masterplan?
Neighbourhood Frameworks are regeneration strategies which provide a clear vision for an area and broadly set out a range of proposals, at varying levels of detail. Once approved, these will help guide future decisions on regeneration and can help to support bids for funding.
Masterplans, on the other hand, are to be adopted as formal planning documents, to provide more detailed guidance within a particular area, for example setting out parameters for building heights and the materials used in new development.
The Council has identified Marine Promenade as an area in need of a detailed masterplan. A draft masterplan has now been produced and the Council wants to hear people’s views on the proposals.
Why are you not consulting on the Neighbourhood Frameworks too?
Work is still ongoing on the wider Neighbourhood Framework for New Brighton, and this will be consulted on in 2024. The Council is working on a number of strategies relating to active travel, electric vehicles and parking, the results of which are needed before we can finalise the Neighbourhood Framework.
How have you taken previous consultations into account?
The Council invited views on the key issues and opportunities for New Brighton in late 2020. Feedback highlighted the untapped potential of New Brighton and a desire to celebrate New Brighton’s remarkable history whilst looking to the future.
The Council carried out a further consultation covering New Brighton in October 2022, which highlighted the ideas of local schoolchildren using Virtual Reality technology at the Floral Pavilion, funded by the UK Government’s PropTech Engagement Fund Round 2.
The Council has since been talking to local landowners and prospective developers along Marine Promenade and the Council’s appointed architects, Building Design Partnership (BDP), have carried out a detailed analysis of the area.
What next?
The Council will consult on the draft Marine Promenade Masterplan for a period of 8 weeks. A report of consultation will be produced, and the masterplan will be formally adopted following the adoption of the Council’s Local Plan.