News + Ideas

We are really excited to share our proposals for the regeneration of Rother District Council’s Town Hall in Bexhill-on-Sea.

In 2019, Rother District Council declared a climate emergency and pledged for the Council to be Net Zero Carbon by 2030. The Town Hall, which is the Council’s main administrative building is inefficient in terms of spatial logistics and energy performance. The current offices are not fit for purpose and do not reflect the environment for a 21st century civic and office building; this project seeks to address these issues.

The ambition for the project is to deliver a high-quality facility that:

• leads the way in demonstrating the Council’s pledge to be net zero carbon by 2030;
• provides a civic heart for Rother District;
• offers a befitting and inspiring civic space for local organisations in a central and accessible location;
• rethinks the workspace post-COVID-19;
• and provides a modern community services hub.

The main core of the Town Hall, which is over 120 years old and an asset of historical significance, will be retained and refurbished to improve its energy efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint. The development will provide a modern and attractive workplace that promotes accessibility, health and wellbeing, and provides adaptability as working practices change and evolve. The project will also include a new extension, to the west of the main Town Hall, with an inviting flexible public-facing space on the ground floor, adaptable workspaces, breakout spaces and an attractively landscaped courtyard dealing with levels across the site and focusing on improving social engagement opportunities.

MGAC | RLF is providing project management, quantity surveying, and principal design services. Key team members include Alex Hall, Director Project Management; Kier White, Associate Project Manager; Alex Pearce, Assistant Project Manager; Lloyd Evans, Associate Quantity Surveyor; Russell Smith, Director Principal Designer; and Eve Crocker, Principal Designer. Austin-Smith:Lord, in collaboration with RXA, was appointed, through the South East Consortium Framework, by Rother District Council to provide architecture, interior, and landscape design services.