When we bring our community together, we can create a thriving town that works for everyone – and we can begin the next chapter in Bexhill’s proud history.

Bexhill-on-Sea has a rich history. It’s where iguanodons walked, the home of the architecturally groundbreaking De La Warr Pavillion and where the suffragettes rallied support. As the birthplace of British motor racing, as a place of ‘sun and health’, the town established a proud reputation – one that galvanised and united its community.

But in recent years, Bexhill has struggled to maintain this reputation. Because, like other seaside towns, it has seen a drop off in tourism. This has hit businesses, forcing employers and workers to look outside our town for opportunities – which has resulted in even less investment in Bexhill. Our public spaces have become less vibrant. And, with infrastructure under pressure, our wards have become disconnected. We’ve lost some sense of community, and a little of our shared pride.

But we on Bexhill’s Neighbourhood Board know that times are already changing. We’re building on the things that residents share – our vibrant heritage, our hopes for ourselves and our families – to bring our community back together. So, all of us can be proud of the town we call home.

We’re investing in the things our community cares about

The Neighbourhood Board is a group of representatives from business and community organisations, as well as the Town, District and County councils. Our job is to invest £20million of central government funding in ways that will benefit Bexhill residents like you.

To understand what you want for Bexhill, we gathered feedback from nearly a thousand people. Now, by collaborating in new ways with government and community groups, we’re planning to invest the funding in projects that will help you to:

• Enjoy a vibrant and thriving town centre

• Make the most of our heritage and our emerging cultural scene

• Feel safe, strong and supported, whatever your background

• Take up educational, skills and job opportunities – and, ultimately, achieve your life goals right here in Bexhill

This is an ambitious project that will span the next decade. But it will be worth the effort. Because it will transform the way we feel, not just about our town – but about ourselves.

We’re creating spaces where we can all work, play, and thrive…

This project isn’t about quick wins, such as sprucing up paintwork on certain buildings. 

It’s about creating places with purpose, spaces where people can gather: shops and cafes, bustling with customers; shared workspaces where people exchange ideas and start new ventures; and, of course, our town centre, full of thriving businesses old and new, encouraging skills development and pathways to good jobs for people inside and outside Bexhill.

Because when this happens, we’ll begin a virtuous circle. The more we grow, the more we’ll attract investment from elsewhere: from business, from developers, from central government. And this will benefit not only the residents of today but also the generations to come.

…All while celebrating our unique Bexhill spirit

Although we’re pushing for change, we’ll never lose what makes us Bexhill. In fact, bringing people together is what Bexhill is all about. Our mix of long-time residents and new arrivals, entrepreneurs and artists, out-of-towners and locals – this is what gives this place its unique spirit. You can see it in the crowds at our beautiful heritage bandstand, enjoying everything from brass bands to Buddhist meditation.

All the same, this work is about welcoming crowds without becoming crowded, being commercial without being commercialised. It’s about making sure all parts of our community can enjoy the mix of heritage and modernity that is Bexhill: arts and music at the De La Warr Pavillion, our classic car show, our carnival, our outdoor cinema, our popular community events and community sports clubs. Our glorious beachfront, the seascape as beautiful as it was when the dinosaurs walked here.