EASTBOURNE Borough Council’s bid for funding to transform an old pumping station site into much-needed council homes has finally been approved.
Subject to Government conditions that the council is working through, Homes England has confirmed the council’s request for £7.622 million has been agreed.
The former pumping station in Bedfordwell Road is a familiar sight for many, especially train passengers who use Eastbourne Railway Station.
The whole site has been designated for development for some time but the council has not confirmed specific details yet, although that is on the cards.
Councillor Peter Diplock, cabinet member for housing, said: “In Eastbourne our ambition for new homes is restricted by the sea, the downland, the Pevensey Levels and a close border with Wealden District Council.
“The Bedfordwell Depot is a classic brownfield site that could undoubtedly accommodate much-needed affordable homes, but like most sites of this nature it is complicated and therefore costly to redevelop.”
According to the Historic England website, the pumping station was constructed in 1881 and was designed by Henry Currey, who was also the architect for the Eastbourne Waterworks Company Ltd, which was established by the 7th Duke of Devonshire in 1859.
The pumping station was officially opened in 1883 by the then mayor of Eastbourne, George A. Wallis, who also served as the engineer.
The opening was attended by the future King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, and in honour of their attendance the two rotary pumping engines were named after them. The larger engine was named ‘The Prince’ and the smaller one ‘The Princess’.
The beam engines had the capacity to pump five million gallons of water every 24 hours from an oval well, which was about 40 feet deep.
However, the pumping station did not last long and ceased operating in 1895 because the well was contaminated.
The site was sold in 1923 to be used as a council depot and the inside was renovated to accommodate workshop machinery.
In subsequent years, the pumping station has undergone several changes; council offices were built near the site, a beam engine was transported to Friston Pumping Station and its boiler chimneystack was removed. The buildings that were erected on the site after 1923 were demolished in 2012.
Eastbourne Borough Council also had other discussions with Homes England about the confirmation of a Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF) bid of £2.2 million.
It is not expected to be announced until later this year and it is only when all the conditions are met that the funding from Homes England will be allocated.
Councillor Stephen Holt, leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, said: “Securing this funding from the Affordable Homes Programme is a great first step and I hope that it will provide the momentum needed to get all the other pieces of the jigsaw in place.
“If I had my way, we would already have all the money needed now to build the homes local people need, instead of having to jump through yet more hoops, but it’s a process we are used to and we will do our very best to secure the final element required.”
