Eleanor Harris: An Eye On British Airways i360

seafront regeneration

This week the Council unveiled exciting plans for the seafront, which will create a distinctive destination for visitors and residents alike; all thanks to money from the i360. The area either side of the i360 will be transformed to create two brand new beautifully landscaped public spaces including a celebration of West Pier heritage and a flexible new event space.
Brighton & Hove City Council is proposing to borrow £1.4m from the government’s PWLB (Public Works Loan Board), and earnings from the Brighton i360 will fund this. Few people realise that the Council has already earned over £1 million from the i360 in financing fees before we have even opened and will continue to earn over £1m a year in revenue from the i360. This money will be reinvested back into the city, providing a very welcome source of funding at a time of cuts.
So what is planned? The piazza to the west of the Brighton i360 (next to the newly opened West Pier arches) will become a fantastic flexible event space, all year round. This will provide a unique backdrop to events like no other on Brighton seafront. Imagine taking a dance class or eating popcorn at a deckchair cinema on the seafront. Or perhaps attending an intimate concert or play where the sea and beach provide the set and scenery.

The piazza on the East side of the i360 site will become a heritage area, designed to reflect the history of the West Pier. It will provide seating and a new setting for the West Pier columns and magnificent West Pier Octagonal Kiosk once it has been restored.
These plans unite Brighton’s history together with its future and are designed to elegantly complement the i360 making this part of Brighton seafront an area that can be enjoyed for many many years to come.
Once approved, the works are due to take place from February 2016 in time for the i360 opening in Summer 2016. This project is just the beginning of the regeneration possible from the i360 funds and I look forward to seeing many more plans in future.
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