The National Lottery Heritage Fund has offered ‘Round One development funding’ of £531,000 to assist Hastings Borough Council in preparing detailed proposals to secure the long-term future of the West Hill Lift.

The Grade-II listed lift, which runs vertically up the cliff from George Street below Hastings Castle and its shortly-to-be-constructed Visitor Centre, needs a major restoration to improve accessibility and reliability.

Cllr Julia Hilton, deputy leader of the council and lead councillor for regeneration, says that the future of the lift is “a vital part” of the Hastings Castle project funded by the Town Deal. “We are very grateful to the Heritage Fund and National Lottery players for this grant, which will allow us to complete the detailed design work and planning consents we need to make a further bid for funding to fully restore the lift.”

A council spokesperson has indicated that the full restoration is likely to cost around £3.8 million, “but it very much depends on what the development stage shows”.


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https://www.hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/NEWS-West-Hill-Cafe-1-1024x768.jpeghttps://www.hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/NEWS-West-Hill-Cafe-1-150x150.jpegHIPNewsTop StoriesHastings Borough Council,Julia Hilton,National Lottery Heritage FundThe National Lottery Heritage Fund has offered ‘Round One development funding’ of £531,000 to assist Hastings Borough Council in preparing detailed proposals to secure the long-term future of the West Hill Lift. The Grade-II listed lift, which runs vertically up the cliff from George Street below Hastings Castle and its...The Hastings & St Leonards non-profit community newspaper