Beacon Hub Brighton CIO Information

Beacon Hub Brighton has signed a 15 year rent free full repairing lease on a disused 18-hole golf course kiosk and 34 space car park next to Beacon Hill Local Nature Reserve from Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC). BHB & BHCC are working collaboratively in a 'friends of' arrangement to integrate 2/3 of the golf course in to the neighbouring Local Nature Reserve and include its management in BHCC’s Higher Land Stewardship (HLS) agreement. For the remaining 1/3 of the golf course BHB have created an advisory group from the local community to design an archaeologically and ecologically sensitive, practical, interesting and beautiful outdoor area for public amenity, conservation, heritage and arts education. BHB will convert the existing golf kiosk in to a 35 capacity classroom, kitchen/kiosk, office and public toilet. The building plans created by the BHB volunteer building team (local architect Kinga Hoffman, surveyor David F Smith and structural engineer) have been accepted by South Downs National Park Authority and BHCC. BHB aims to be a coastal gateway to the newly designated Brighton & Lewes Downs Biosphere and will work collaboratively with this project to conserve, promote and enhance the new Biosphere. BHB are devising a nature conservation, archaeology, heritage, arts & well-being education programme for schools, a weekend 'eco hub' children’s club, a community education programme, and fund-raising events. The education programmes will focus on equipping existing and future generations with knowledge of the science behind conservation practises, plus the practical technology and arts skills they will need to protect and enhance the neighbouring Beacon Hill Local Nature Reserve, archaeological site (Long Barrow & Dew Pond), heritage site (Rottingdean Windmill) and Marine Conservation Zone (Beachy Head West rMCZ 13.2). www.beaconhubbrighton.org