Brooklands Park's £3 Million Transformation Given Boost

Plans to transform Brooklands Park into a new £3m jewel-in-the-crown destination have been given a major boost after a significant grant award.

The park has been awarded £100,000 from the Rampion Fund at Sussex Community Foundation, set up by Rampion Offshore Windfarm, to contribute to the building of a state-of-the-art sustainable cafe close to the lake.

It is the biggest single grant award the Fund has ever made.

The award, administered by the Foundation, was today welcomed by Worthing Borough Council's Executive Member for the Environment, Cllr Edward Crouch.

Cllr Crouch said:

“I'm delighted the Foundation has recognised the significant work we are about to undertake to restore Brooklands with the award of this money from the Rampion Fund.

“This money will play a significant part in helping us create a fantastic destination for residents and tourists alike. The cafe will be built to the highest environmental standards as is the policy of this Council as we seek to become a carbon-neutral authority.”

The money was awarded after project organisers outlined to the Fund that the cafe will be built using sustainable energy principles in keeping with the ethos of the wind farm.

The building is designed as a low energy building using a fabric-first approach to minimise the requirement for energy use.

As well as incorporating natural ventilation, sustainable heating technology, renewable energy from roof-mounted photovoltaic panels, and water conservation technologies, the building materials have been selected for low environmental impact.

As well as building a brand new café, the £3m Brooklands project will involve building:

• An adventure play area to house 30 pieces of equipment, two of which are climbing frames more than 4 metres high.
• An outdoor space for multi-use events such as frisbee, football or other activities surrounded by seating.
• A contemplative garden bordering the Teville Stream with new sensory planting.
• A new accessible pathway circumnavigating the lake with seating areas and shelters.
• A 2.5k fitness trail around the park.
• A number of glades on the old golf course, including Community Garden, Play and Build, Nature, Wind and Winter: discrete areas sheltered by .planting allowing for different community activities including food growing, seed sowing, play dens, bug hotels and bird boxes.
• Windmill oxygenators for the lake.

A mount celebrating the highest point in the park, from which views of the sea give a strong sense of place.

It is hoped construction will begin late this year once technical design work is completed.

The £3.1m Rampion Fund was set up by the Rampion Offshore Wind, in 2017. Its 116 turbines on a 70 square mile site off our coast now provides enough electricity to power the equivalent of half the homes in Sussex.

The Sussex Community Foundation raises funds for and makes grants to charities and community groups across East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton & Hove. It has made grants of more than £19 million since 2006.

Kevin Richmond, Chief Executive of Sussex Community Foundation, said:

“The Brooklands Park grant is the biggest single grant the Foundation has ever made and we are delighted that the Rampion Fund has enabled us to make it.

"Sustainability and the environment are at the heart of the Rampion Fund's purpose so it is thrilling to be able to make this significant contribution to a project that will really enhance the park for Worthing people.”