Rother District Council (RDC) are embarking on a refurbishment and extension of the current toilet and staffing block at Camber Sands Central Carpark. This will create a new Camber Sands Welcome Centre. The fully grant funded project has successfully been awarded planning permission and is planned to start of site in October 2024.
FULLY GRANT FUNDED
In March 2024 RDC have recently been awarded Levelling Up Partnership LUP funding of £18.49 million of Capital Funding by the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities DLUHC (click here for details) for projects to be delivered by March 2025. Camber Sands Welcome Centre (ROTH_02) is one of the LUP Grant funded projects awarded £1,685,000 to complete the regeneration project.
In March 2023 RDC were awarded £943,301 from Community Infrastructure Levy Funding (CIL) (pdf) in March 2023. With the significant CIL investment, these proposals will provide sustainable infrastructure for the foreseeable future.
This brings the total grant funded project budget to £2,628,301.
RDC have also been ringfenced for £20,000 of Shared Prosperity Funding for community engagement events that focus on collaboration and education centred around the new welcome centre. More information regarding these events will be shared on this page in due course.
PROJECT TIMELINE
| Key Milestones | Milestone Date |
|---|---|
| CIL Funding Announced | 24/04/23 |
| Planning Application Approved by Committee Decision | 16/11/23 |
| DLUHC Grant Funding Announced | 28/03/24 |
| Contractor Procurement Started | 25/04/24 |
| Pre-Commencement Works Start | 17/05/24 |
| Contractor Mobilisation Start | 12/08/24 |
| Camber Sands Facilities Close | 29/09/24 |
| Planned Start on Site Date | 30/09/24 |
| Planned Completion (Easter 2025) | 18/04/25 |
| New Facilities Soft Opening | 19/04/25 |
| Community Space Opening Event (after summer season) | 19/09/25 |
PROJECT DETAILS
The proposed building has come out of a long process of understanding what doesn’t work and what is needed for the future operation at Camber Sands. The core project themes are:
- Maximise capacity: improvements to layouts that maximise the capacity & efficiency of all WCs;
- Condition & sustainability: targeted sustainability investment and rectify known building condition issues;
- Expand and enrich: new construction to extend and provide space for enhanced activities including commercial space.
Both Images by DK-CM
The proposals include benefits such as:
- 180% increase in toilet provision (from 21 existing toilets including urinals to 38 over three rooms)
- Significantly improve Coastal Operations office the HQ for Operation Radcott the multi-agency sea safety operation base on Camber Sands.
- Increased first aid facilities, with a major and minor spaces.
- New permanent large RNLI storage.
- New Welfare Facility to seasonal staff to be hireable community space off-season.
- New kiosk for income generation.
- New and improved building facilities including rainwater harvestings, solar panels and sustainable urban drainage systems.
- Dune management, ecology and sea safety education.
A new kiosk will offer opportunities to provide visitors with useful information, including nearby amenities and places of interest and details of local wildlife encouraging a better understanding of the unique sand dune environment, The intention is to also provide a small, healthy, and environmentally sustainable take-away food and drink offer, utilising local suppliers. Out of season, it is anticipated the kiosk can be made available for hire for community use, schools and by local residents, dependant on the provider.
NEWS AND UPDATES
Rother District Council have progressed through detailed design of the proposals and are now inviting tenderers to submit bids for the construction contract. The details and full tender package have been released on the South East Shared Services Portal with reference: RDC – 037661.
Please visit South East Shared Services E Portal by clicking here
This is being managed by RDC’s shared procurement service East Sussex Procurement Hub ESPH. The information is also available on Contracts Finder (click here to view).
On 16th November 2024 Planning Committee unanimously Granted (Full Planning) to the Application for Camber Sands Welcome Centre.
The Planning application reference RR/2023/1743/P can be viewed by clicking here.
To View the Planning Committee Report completed by the Case Officer (click Here)
Summary from the report states:
The redevelopment of this tourist facility within the development boundary of Camber is considered an improvement of the existing site and is an acceptable proposal in principle. The proposal would not have an adverse impact on the character and appearance of the area, harm the amenities of neighbouring properties and would be acceptable in terms of flood risk. Subject to conditions, the proposal is considered acceptable in terms of traffic management, biodiversity and habitat protection.
Prior to submission and throughout planning RDC held several consultation events and amended our designs following community and stakeholder feedback. Information about these changes can be found in the planning submission, with a brief summary of the most prominent changes shown below:
| Issue | Response | Change Made |
|---|---|---|
| First Floor Balcony | The Project Team understand neighbour concerns regarding the originally proposed balcony on the first floor of the welcome centre. Its intention was to create further welfare space for summer officers, and it would have had strict hours of operation. | However due to comments made within the application and a cost review of the proposals, alongside increase costs of maintenance, the balcony has been removed from the proposal. |
| Water for community garden | This will be included in the moving of the showers to the north side of the building. | A tap will be included for community use and a water Butt installed specifically to feed the community garden. |
| Kiosk might impact current local business | The intention of the kiosk is to hold other required uses such as Sea Safety Information and Dune education as well as a landing space for public queries upon arrival alongside a small takeaway offer. | Further direct consultation with local and adjacent businesses will happen in Autumn to discuss more detailed concerns around the specifics of the offer and the running of the new proposed kiosk. |
| Flooding and surface water concerns | The project team are aware of the difficulties of surface water flooding in the carpark and from the footbaths, this project can only improve that related to the building itself and its uses. | Sustainable drainage is being introduced into the scheme in the form of permeable paving to the exterior this will also house sand traps that are easily maintainable to reduce surface water flooding from the building and footbaths. |
| Concerns with Unisex Toilets | Three separate toilets are required for ongoing cleaning and maintenance which requires shutting toilets throughout the day, as well as meeting up to date equalities legislation. | The names of the toilets will now be clarified as ‘Male Only Toilets’; ‘Toilets’; ‘Female Only Toilets’ and ‘Disabled Toilets and Baby Change’. To address concerns two ‘Superloos’ have been added to the third toilet facility which include basins within the cubicle. |
| Tide Clock | Suggestions were made to move the tide clock to face the carpark. This has not been taken on board as the current position is deemed best for sea safety. | The tide clock and arrow are designed to quickly highlight when the tide changes. It shows which direction the tide is moving alongside safety information, which will alert beach goers of the change from the beach. |
| Height of Tower | The tower serves a number of functions including wayfinding and will act as a heat chimney in the summer reducing the need for mechanical cooling in the hot summer months. | Following comments, the height of the tower was marginally reduced to enable it to still provide its core function alongside less impact for adjacent neighbours. |
Future updates to this project will be added to this page.
