Andrew Kay: Embrace the new

Last week I visited a huge international exhibition in London’s Docklands. The World Travel Market is an event on a scale that can genuinely be seen as global and the massive international stands were truly impressive.

How saddened was I though to see that the UK was so spartanly represented, with a smattering of very good commercial stands but very little regional presence in comparison to the rest of the world.

This week I was invited to a media launch of the proposed plans to enhance and regenerate the Royal Pavilion and Dome complex and the surrounding estate. In a very compelling presentation I was impressed to hear a heartfelt explanation of the shortcomings, where the failings are and the vast amount of works and new initiatives that are being explored to put one of the world’s most extraordinary royal palaces back on the international travel stage.

It’s a huge project and one which will no doubt rattle many cages. But seen, against a projection of continued decay if steps are not taken, to not only protect the structure but also grow the audience and develop sustainable revenue streams, then it is surely one that the city needs to get behind.

“I lay my cards on the table. Embrace the change, back a future that could play a major part in ensuring a strong economic future for our city”

I’ve rattled on before about a city where we are fast off our seats to say no to anything new that, and here I quote, “jeopardises the Regency integrity of the city”. My views have often conflicted with those of friends. I would certainly have liked to see the Frank Gehry building on the King Alfred site and I was never against the developments proposed for Brighton Marina, in a moderated form that is.

I for one would not wish to see our city’s finest architecture spoilt by thoughtless planning decisions, but I have seen so many amazing modern developments in European cities where the old and the new sit comfortably side by side. You only need to took at Bilbao to see how a Gehry can attract the eye of the world and change the economic fortunes of a city, once industrial to one now firmly on the major tourism map.

Brighton needs to be doing the same, embracing change, opening its collective mind to the new and steering a clear course to a better future. We may well be ‘digital’ but our real strength lies in our heritage and selling it to the modern tourist.

The jewel in the city’s crown has to be the Royal Palace and Estate, but compared to other major international heritage sites it remains in the Dark Ages, a disjointed collection of buildings, all doing a remarkable job but which, despite all being part of one shared history, appear to be separate entities.

The proposals will not please everyone, how could they, and there will have to be further consultations and inevitable change if this cohesive plan to establish Brighton as a major tourist and cultural destination is to work.

So here I lay my cards on the table. Embrace the change, back a future that could play a major part in ensuring a strong economic future for our city, a city that has in its history never been afraid to embrace change, challenge existing concepts and stand apart from the masses as an extraordinarily exciting place to both live and visit. And when we’ve done that let’s get out there and sell it to the world.

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