Brighton & Hove City Council is bidding for £214,500 of National Heritage Funding to restore the Royal Pavilion Gardens. The council aims to restore the historic site back to its former glory, as well as ensure its preservation for future generations.
The council’s bid was put together after their last application was turned down. Despite this, the importance of the project was recognised by the national Heritage Fund, who encouraged them to reapply.
The Heritage Fund assessors praised the community involvement which backed the bid.
The council’s plans to restore and improve the gardens include:
- Improving access to the gardens for people with disabilities and a installing a new ‘Changing Places’ toilet.
- New lighting and a secure boundary to address vandalism and anti-social behaviour.
- Conserving and restoring listed lamp posts and balustrade, flowerbeds, paths, lawns and improving recycling, lighting and seating.
- Overhauling the entrances, installing new gates and signs.
- Creating a new programme of events, activities and volunteering opportunities.
- Improving interpretation with maps and information boards, audio tours and an archival research project.
Should the council be granted the £214,500 bid, it will allow them to undertake the detailed planning needed for a major grant bid of £3.3 million.
Councillor Alan Robins, chair of the council’s Tourism, Equalities, Communities & Culture Committee said:
The Royal Pavilion Garden is one of our most precious and well-loved public spaces, as well as having a unique history. This project is an opportunity to transform the way residents and visitors engage with its heritage.
We are excited to see this beautiful garden restored to its former glory, removed from the Heritage at Rick Register and preserved for future generations.
Improving and conserving the Royal Pavilion Garden is a part of the larger Royal Pavilion Estate project. The council and Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival are working together to conserve the entirety of the estate’s heritage.
The restoration of the Royal Pavilion Gardens will mark phase two of the estate’s conservation project. Phase one is already underway; the Royal Pavilion estate was granted £3 million back in 2017 for the refurbishment of the Brighton Dome Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre.
