The South Downs National Park Authority’s Planning Committee has given the green light, with conditions, to an ambitious project at Black Robin Farm, located off Beachy Head Road in Eastbourne. This decision, made during their meeting at County Hall in Lewes on February 15, paves the way for the creation of a new hub dedicated to culture, arts, and education, envisioned as a gateway for visitors to the downland.
The approval comes with several conditions aimed at enhancing the project’s environmental and community benefits. These include a legal agreement under Section 106 to extend local bus services, establish a new public footpath, and reassess the proposed bus stop’s location to minimize its impact on the adjacent Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Eastbourne Borough Council’s proposal for the site involves repurposing the farmstead to host a variety of facilities, including a cultural and education center, business studios, a refectory, event space, and a new gallery building. The development plans also feature improvements to pedestrian and vehicle access, parking, and landscaping.
An artist’s impression reveals an innovative design for the education hub, which will be managed by Towner Eastbourne. The project emphasizes ecological restoration, with plans for chalk grassland rejuvenation and the refurbishment of two dew ponds, aligning with the objectives of the Eastbourne Downland Estate Whole Estate Plan. Additional wildlife-friendly initiatives include new hedgerow planting.

Expected to draw up to 100,000 visitors annually, the cultural center will incorporate measures to promote sustainable travel, notably enhanced local bus services.
Mike Hughes, the National Park Authority’s Interim Director of Planning, expressed enthusiasm for the hub’s potential to significantly enrich public engagement with the area’s cultural and natural heritage. According to Hughes, this initiative not only aligns with the Authority’s core missions of cultural heritage preservation and public enjoyment of the National Park but also promises notable improvements to local wildlife habitats.