Brighton and Hove City Council has acknowledged an error in its claim that Hove Beach Park is the first new park to be established in the city in over a century, following criticism from local campaigners and residents.
The park, officially opened on Friday, May 15, by council leader Bella Sankey, was introduced with celebratory fanfare and a weekend of public events. During the opening ceremony, Cllr Sankey declared the park to be “the first new park in the city in more than 100 years,” sparking immediate scrutiny from local figures.
Green Party campaigner and Elm Grove resident Dr. Luke Walker challenged the assertion, pointing to several other parks in Brighton and Hove that have been developed within the last century. “Many of the city’s parks are under 100 years old,” he said, citing Withdean Park (1933), Easthill Park (1948), Carden Park (1950s), and William Clarke Park—also known as “The Patch”—which opened in the 1980s.
Dr. Walker criticized what he described as an attempt by the Labour-led council to claim undue credit, noting that the groundwork for the Hove Beach Park project was laid under the previous Green administration, which successfully secured government funding in 2021. He also expressed disappointment that local Labour councillors did not correct the historical inaccuracy, particularly given that William Clarke Park is named after a former Labour councillor and mayor.
The park’s origins further undermine the council’s original claim. William Clarke Park was developed from a disused railway cutting along the former Kemp Town branch line, while other mid-20th-century parks emerged from repurposed farmland and estates.
In response, Cllr Sankey defended the significance of the £13.7 million Hove Beach Park project, initially known as the Kingsway to the Sea scheme. She emphasized the transformation of a neglected area of the seafront into a vibrant public space, describing it as “one of the most popular council projects in decades.”
Sankey acknowledged the error, attributing it to an oversight. “Going back over our historic records again since the official opening, we have found a number of parks which have had their status formally recognised or had work done to transform unloved space into something the community can enjoy within the last 100 years,” she said.
While conceding that Hove Beach Park is not the city’s first new park in a century, Sankey maintained that it remains “one of the most ambitious, creative and transformative projects” in Brighton and Hove’s recent history. The development was partially funded by a £9.4 million grant from the UK government.
