Giant climbing frame to be built on Brighton seafront

The plans to put a 16-metre high rope climbing structure above the Peter Pan’s Adventure Golf course in Madeira Drive have been given the green light.

A 2018 proposal to put a similar structure on the site was met with concerns from the police, who worried children might be exposed to nudists on the beach.

People will be given seafront views from the top

However this time around, police turned their concerns to intruders, rather than naturists – asking for an alarm and CCTV to deter break-ins.

The climbing course will offer people the chance to scale platforms which stretch five-storeys into the air for views across the seafront.

Also given the go-ahead were plans to extend the café’s current seating southward by extending a platform over the Volks Railway line.

The propsals to build the high-rope course have been given the green light

The proposal was met with praise from Brighton and Hove City Council’s seafront team.

A spokesman said: ”We fully support the development of the site and the proposals to extend the roof terrace across the Volk's Railway track.

“This increased space will allow for better links with the new high ropes course and will create a more pleasant environment for customers entering and exiting the high ropes course and for customers of the café wanting to take advantage of the elevated position with uninterrupted views across the

beach.

The proposals including plans to build seating over the railway line

“The scheme fits with the council's aspirations for the eastern seafront and will encourage more leisure activity within the area. It is likely to create a longer dwell time in “the area for users of the playground, high-ropes and golf courses as well as providing improved offer for people using the beach.

“The tenant has consulted with the ourselves and the Volk's Railway manager with regard to the design of the terrace to ensure that the railway is enhanced and not negatively impacted in any way.

“The addition of a new 'tunnel' which the train will travel through will be seen as a feature for the younger passengers.

“The extension across the railway line does not impact on the beach in any way nor set a precedent for building on the beach.

“There are already several premises to the south of the railway line which protrude much further onto the beach than what is proposed here

However, the plans were met with opposition from the Regency Society which believes the south side of Madeira Drive is “becoming over-developed”.

A spokesman said: “Commercial developments such as the Zip wire catering area and additions around the Peter Pan Playground are detrimental to the character of the Conservation Area.

The East Cliff Study published by the Council in 2002 describes the south side of Madeira Drive as a ‘continuous line of wide, uncluttered beaches’ which ‘contribute significantly to this character’.

“The character is being eroded and the Planning Authority should do whatever it can to protect it. We also question the practicality and safety of locating an open-air seating area above a working railway line”