Major Funding Boost for Brighton's King's Road Arches
The rebuilt arches on King's Road, home to shops and cafes along the seafront
Brighton News
Major Funding Boost for Brighton's King's Road Arches
Millions of pounds are set to be invested in the arches under King's Road in Brighton, with work starting this summer following a major funding boost.
Brighton and Hove City Council is rebuilding dozens of Victorian arches along the seafront. Surveys have found they are in urgent need of replacing to avoid collapse, which would close the road above and make the area unusable. King's Road carries an average of more than 25,000 vehicles and 2,100 cyclists a day, making it one of the busiest routes in the city.
£22m+
from the Department for Transport, with a further £3.9 million from the council, to repair the seafront arches
The stretch of seafront where phases 4 and 5 of the arches work will take place
Beginning Phases 4 and 5
Phase 4 focuses on the area between the bandstand and the i360. Phase 5 would then move on to the arches west of Shelter Hall. Subject to its approval, the Department for Transport would fund more than £22 million to complete both phases. The council will contribute a further £3.9 million, with £1.8 million of that coming from public borrowing.
Once completed, the council says it would make the arches and the road above safe and usable for the next 100 years, and provide a new and improved space for local businesses.
"This is fantastic news and vital for the future of this key part of the city. This funding means we can strengthen the Victorian era arches so they can support the road, pavement and cycle lane on one of the city's busiest routes for another 100 years. But we'll also be able to create a better home for local businesses in this vibrant space on the seafront and, working with local communities, look at options for a new and improved King's Road paddling pool area."
Councillor Trevor Muten, Cabinet Member for Transport and City Infrastructure
Roads and Buses Minister Simon Lightwood said the funding would let residents and visitors keep enjoying Brighton's attractions for the next 120 years by revamping the arches that dozens of seafront businesses call home, boosting growth across the city.
Councillor Trevor Muten, Cabinet Member for Transport and City Infrastructure
Who Is Councillor Trevor Muten?
Councillor Trevor Muten is Brighton and Hove City Council's Cabinet Member for Transport and City Infrastructure, the role that puts him in charge of the roads, cycling routes and major infrastructure projects across the city, including the King's Road arches scheme.
He represents the council's Green administration on the Cabinet and has been closely involved in the seafront arches project as it has progressed through its earlier phases, regularly visiting the site to see the work firsthand.
Councillor Trevor Muten, Cabinet Member for Transport and City Infrastructure
Councillor Muten has been closely involved in the arches project through its earlier phases
Paddling Pool, Playground and Toilets to Close
Work on phase 4 will require the closure of the King's Road paddling pool area while it takes place. The council says this gives it an opportunity to work with the local community on creating a new and improved facility. A feasibility study on potential options is under way, with a public consultation to gather residents' thoughts and ideas due to be held later in 2026. The council hopes to have a new facility up and running in 2027.
The playground and public toilets in the area will also need to close during the works.
Phases 1, 2 and 3
The first three phases of the project have already delivered new shops, toilets and Shelter Hall. Phase 1 created shops and new public toilets from 26 arches, with the first shops in the rebuilt arches opening in summer 2014. The scheme won a Sussex Heritage Trust Award for outstanding conservation work.
Phase 2, between the Regency Square subway and the Metropole Hotel, strengthened a further 33 arches between The Seahorse restaurant and the West Pier. Phase 3 saw the creation of Shelter Hall itself, along with new public toilets on the lower promenade and a new walkway and sea wall.
The full details of the scheme, including phases 1 to 3, are on the council's official page, Rebuilding the seafront arches.
Source: Brighton and Hove City Council.
