We're setting up a Madeira Terrace advisory panel

An advisory panel bringing together a mix of community representatives, nominated by their own respective communities, is being created to work alongside the council in bringing forward the Madeira Terrace restoration. This follows a meeting with residents, community volunteers and businesses.

The panel will have up to 12 members made up of categories including:

  • community groups
  • event organisers
  • businesses
  • tourism and conservation representatives

The panel is likely to meet quarterly once different category groups are decided. In the next few weeks we’ll be inviting the community to put forward their nominated panel members and then work with them to arrange a date for the first Advisory Panel meeting.

More than 40 people attended last week’s meeting and speakers included the Regency Society, the Save Madeira Terrace Raffle Group and Building Green, a team of volunteers restoring the green wall.

Community input is crucial

Nick Hibberd, the council’s Executive Director for Economy, Environment & Culture said: “I’d like to thank everyone who came for their commitment and enthusiasm for this unique heritage asset. Community input is crucial to making the restoration a success and the advisory panel will open up a practical way for those interested to stay involved and help place their vision at the heart of the restoration.

“We don’t underestimate the challenge of restoring 865m of a Victorian structure exposed to coastal weather and the resources we will need, but we can achieve our shared goals by working together and making things happen.”

Regenerating Madeira Terrace will provide a new future for the eastern seafront along Madeira Drive. A progress report will be taken to the next Tourism, Development & Culture Committee on 20 June when councillors will discuss the next steps, including the need for a specialist design team to give the council and community partners a better understanding of the actual costs of achieving the restoration.

£2 million earmarked from council capital reserves

As well as the £460,000 raised through a crowdfunding campaign, the council has earmarked £2 million from capital reserves for Madeira Terrace. The funds were first made available to match two bids made to National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) in 2018, but as the bids were unsuccessful, the council is reconsidering how to start work on the restoration.

Learn more about the Madeira Terrace

For general enquiries and to register for newsletter updates please email madeira.terrace@brighton-hove.gov.uk

We also have more information on the Madeira Terrace webpage.