Work is progressing on the next steps of a major project that aims to regenerate “run-down and under-used spaces in West Hove”.

The Kingsway to the Sea scheme, which received planning permission in December, includes gardens, sports facilities, and a café along the Western Lawns from just beyond the King Alfred to the Lagoon.

Preparatory work on the £13million development will start next month, with some hedges due for the axe, as well as the demolition of the bowls pavilion.

Brighton and Hove City Council said that to improve access throughout the park it will be necessary to remove some existing hedges to install the required slope, ramp and steps, which it said are “essential” to create accessible routes across the new park.

The hedge that runs along the esplanade to the east of the bowls pavilion will also be removed.

To comply with planning consent and ecological legislation the removal of the hedges must be completed by the end of February, before the bird nesting season starts.  

The council said hedge reductions will be “limited to what is necessary” and more than 600 new trees will be planted in compensation.

New grassland and gardens will also create a “renewed, species-rich greenspace”.

Bird nesting boxes will also be installed near-by.

The council said the linear park will be an “activity and relaxation space”, “meeting sport and leisure needs of all users”, with new gardens as “oasis areas” within the park. 

The new park will feature:

• Improved accessible and biodiverse green spaces

• An outdoor sports hub incorporating bowls clubhouse, public café with terrace, public toilets and changing facilities

• Tennis and paddle tennis courts

• Sand sports areas

• Bowls and croquet

• Skatepark, pump track and roller-skating area

• Improved events space

Councillor Martin Osborne, who co-chairs the Brighton and Hove City Council’s tourism, equalities, communities and culture committee, said: “We welcome the progress being made to this space in west Hove’s seafront, and look forward to seeing the area improved and brought to life as a valuable community asset.

“There will be some disruption to begin with but over time, the new gardens will provide a significant increase in habitat and biodiversity alongside the other benefits of improved accessibility and additional community facilities.”