Re-imagining Newhaven | Latest News

Exciting new designs for Newhaven town centre will be on display this month at Marine Workshops.

This is the latest step in Newhaven’s Wayfinding and Public Realm Improvement Scheme, as it continues to revitalise the town by creating a more welcoming, accessible, and vibrant environment for everyone.

The town centre project will help deliver Neighbourhood Plan and Town Investment Plan objectives and has been shaped through engagement with high street traders and members of the community.

Key elements include making the town centre more pedestrian friendly, introducing green spaces with places to rest, lighting upgrades, more planting, sustainable drainage solutions, decluttering public spaces, enhancing key entry points to the town centre.

The exhibition

The exhibition will take place in the Atrium at The Marine Workshops from 10am to 4pm on:

• Thursday 19 June
• Friday 20 June 20
• Saturday 21 June 21

The plans will then be on display at Newhaven Library for the remaining part of June.

Newhaven’s Wayfinding and Public Realm Improvement Scheme, funded by UK Government with investment secured by Lewes District Council, is one of twelve projects funded through the Re-imagining Newhaven Investment Programme being completed in 2026.

Projects already completed under the scheme include last year’s Look Again Supergraphics Festival and soft landscaping projects at Riverside North, Chapel Street and Meeching Road.

Details of the wider scheme will also be on display, including improvements along Railway Approach and pedestrian links between Egrets Way, the town centre, West Quay and the port.

Progress at Newhaven Square redevelopment

The Newhaven Square redevelopment is taking shape with construction of a new roof for Quayside Medical Practice well underway.

New hoarding, bearing artwork from a local graphic designer, has been put up around the entire site while building work is being carried out.

The redevelopment marks a new era for primary healthcare in Newhaven, creating a new Health & Wellbeing Hub. It will include new premises for two GP practices – Quayside Medical Practice and Chapel Street Surgery – and the further development of the Primary Care Network, a new pharmacy and the expansion of Wave Active at Seahaven Swim & Fitness and its partnership with healthcare to support those with health conditions and the rehabilitation of patients.

A creative hub will also be developed to provide space for co-working and start-up businesses.

Completion is on track for autumn 2026.

To find out more about the project, visit
www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/NewhavenSquare

West Beach redevelopment moves ahead

Contractors will soon be invited to tender for the redevelopment of West Beach Promenade, a key project in the rejuvenation of Newhaven.

This exciting scheme includes the construction of a new restaurant with a children’s play area, splash pad, outdoor gym, public toilets and Changing Places facility, alongside extensive landscaping and upgrades to footpaths leading to the site.

The new structure will incorporate environmentally friendly features such as a biodiverse green roof along with solar panels and air source heat pumps.

There will also be enhancements to the local ecology including protecting and creating more coastal vegetated shingle habitat, which are important for supporting unique plants, wildlife and helping to stabilise the shoreline.

The redevelopment of West Beach Promenade is set to attract visitors from far and wide, providing a huge boost to the local economy.

Keep an eye out for a further update on the progress at West Beach Promenade in the coming weeks.

Contractor appointed for new Fish Landing Stage

Herbosch-Kiere has been appointed as the contractor on a new 50m Fish Landing Stage, which is being constructed to replace the existing stages.

The works are scheduled for completion in the winter of 2025/26.

If you have any questions, please contact Newhaven Port & Properties Ltd on 01273 616070.

The new Landing Stage is the latest project to improve infrastructure for the town’s commercial fishing industry, alongside the new Fish Processing Plant.

Lewes District Council purchased an industrial unit on the Oak Estate in New Road to house the processing plant, along with equipment such as a chiller, freezer, forklift truck, pallet truck, an ice making machine and storage containers.

The plant will have a focus on producing sustainable fish products, supporting sustainable fishing techniques. They are also working with Lewes Food Partnership.

Find out about the Fish Processing Plant

Newly restored Newhaven Fort ready for summer

Newhaven Fort is gearing up for a bumper summer season following a transformative £7.5 million programme of repairs and restoration.

The 19th-century fort now boasts an enhanced visitor experience, featuring a brand-new adventure playground, interactive exhibitions and an exciting 1970s-themed escape room.

Visitors are able to explore previously hidden parts of the fort including a newly accessible Battery Observation Post, which offers panoramic views of the Sussex coastline.

The Romney Hut in the fort’s parade square has been re-clad and insulated, providing a versatile event space for school activities, weddings, community events, corporate hire and more.

Meanwhile, each of the fort’s 18 casemates – vaults within the site – have been revamped to serve as engaging exhibition areas, with two casemates available for venue hire.

Additionally, the fort hosts a vibrant programme of events, including workshops, guided tours, exhibitions and talks.

Duncan Kerr, Chief Executive of Wave Active, the operators of Newhaven Fort, said: “Newhaven Fort truly offers something for everyone — whether it’s a fun family day out, an immersive journey through history, a quiet coffee break or simply a chance to take in the stunning coastal views.”

Alongside a new café run by the Sussex-renowned Cadence Cycle Club, visitor facilities have been upgraded, including the gift shop and toilets, with improved accessibility and updated signage across the fort.

For more information or to book tickets – which are valid for 12 months, allowing repeat visits – visit www.newhavenfort.org.uk