Arches to be replaced after £22m funding boost

Dozens of Victorian-era arches on the East Sussex coast which are at risk of collapsing are to be replaced after £22m worth of government funding was secured.

The structures, which support King's Road on Brighton's seafront, are in urgent need of renewal to prevent the popular tourist area having to close.

The road connects Brighton Pier, Brighton Beach and the i360 observation tower and carries 22,000 vehicles a day.

Councillor Trevor Muten, Brighton & Hove City Council cabinet member for Transport and City Infrastructure, said the cash injection was "fantastic news and vital for the future of this key part of the city".

He said that the funding, which was being made available by the Department for Transport, will help strengthen "one of the city's busiest routes for another 100 years".

He added: "But we'll also be able to create a better home for local businesses, and, working with local communities, look at options for a new and improved King's Road paddling pool area."

Phases one to three of the King's Road arches project are already complete, with a section west of the i360 revamped in 2014, a section east of the i360 repaired in 2015, and Shelter Hall built in 2021.

Phase four will focus on the section between the bandstand and i360 and is due to be completed in 2027.

Phase five, which has a 2029 end date, is to concentrate on the area west of Shelter Hall.

In addition to the £22m, Brighton & Hove City Council will also contribute a further £3.9m to help phases four and five, with £1.8m of that coming from public borrowing.

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