Lucy Hunt

Brighton and Hove City Council is preparing redevelopment plans for the New England House site, closed in 2024 due to severe fire safety issues. The council plans to market vacant workspace at Phoenix House and Lyndean House to support displaced creative businesses. It is also developing a regeneration brief for the wider New England area, aiming to attract development partners and create new employment space and housing. Councillors emphasise that a council-funded rebuild poses excessive financial risk and say the strategy aims to sustain the city’s creative economy while protecting public funds.

The UK government has allocated £22 million to replace the deteriorating Victorian arches supporting King’s Road in Brighton, with additional funding from Brighton and Hove City Council. The project, scheduled in two phases through 2029, aims to prevent structural collapse, ensure long-term safety for road users, and create improved spaces for local seafront businesses. Local and regional officials welcomed the investment, emphasizing its importance for infrastructure stability and economic vitality along the Brighton seafront.

A pine marten was photographed in a Worthing garden, marking the first confirmed sighting in Sussex in about a century. Sussex Wildlife Trust’s Fran Southgate called it a highly unusual and encouraging sign for native species recovery, noting that the nearest known breeding colony is in the New Forest. Conservation groups involved in the South East Pine Marten Recovery Project view the sighting as evidence of improving habitat conditions and broader wildlife resilience.

Families in Worthing are urging West Sussex County Council to install a safer electronic crossing at the busy Broadwater roundabout, warning that children are at risk. Campaigners, including grandparents and parents, protested after their application for an upgraded crossing was rejected, despite high traffic levels and the absence of a lollipop person due to safety concerns. Local MP Tom Rutland supports the campaign, criticising the council for failing to provide solutions. Protesters say children from multiple schools use the crossing daily and fear a serious accident if action is not taken.

Councillors in Worthing oppose a new planning application by landowner Chris Dixon to develop part of Goring Gap with recreational and tourism-related features including a sandpit, animal attractions and temporary food and drink facilities. The proposals follow a previously refused and unsuccessfully appealed application, as well as unauthorised work on the land that sparked public backlash. Councillors argue the site is a protected green space and warn the development could harm its character, wildlife value and traffic conditions. Dixon maintains he intends to preserve the area as open space while improving community use and is engaging with councillors and residents. The application is expected to be decided in August.

A revised proposal to convert part of Goring Gap into a seasonal recreational site has been resubmitted to Worthing Borough Council by landowner Chris Dixon. The plan includes a sandpit, leisure areas, temporary food and drink outlets, overnight parking and supporting facilities. The previous application was rejected in 2024, a decision upheld on appeal, and the earlier unauthorised excavation of a sandpit drew public criticism. The new submission has prompted objections from residents and the Ferring Conservation Group, citing threats to the area’s rural character, biodiversity, traffic conditions and concerns about animal use and potential future development. A decision is expected in August.

A national investigation led by Baroness Valerie Amos found families across Sussex maternity and neonatal services were not consistently listened to or provided with safe care, alongside widespread staff burnout and capacity pressures. University Hospitals Sussex chief executive Andy Heeps apologised for care that fell below expected standards and outlined steps the trust has taken, including improved telephone triage, increased midwife recruitment and strengthened learning processes. He committed to implementing all forthcoming national recommendations. An external review of more than 1,000 cases, chaired by Donna Ockenden, will further examine maternity care concerns raised by families and advocacy groups.

An investigation into maternity services at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust found families often felt dismissed, unsupported and inadequately informed, with some bereaved parents reporting defensive attitudes and a lack of follow‑up care. Staff described burnout, low morale, unsafe staffing levels and challenges linked to outdated facilities, particularly at Royal Sussex County Hospital and St Richard’s Hospital. Despite some positive experiences with individual clinicians, the report identified systemic failures including poor communication, inconsistent handovers and delays in escalation. The findings conclude that substantial improvements are required, with an external review led by Donna Ockenden set to assess more than 1,000 cases.