Brighthelm Centre garden to reopen with improved safety thanks to Pilbeam
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A green space in the heart of Brighton which was blighted by antisocial behaviour will fully reopen to visitors this summer following work to enhance safety by Pilbeam Construction.
The gardens at the Brighthelm Church and Community Centre are well-loved by residents and office workers, as well as visitors to the popular community venue, but had to close in 2023 after a string of incidents.
Now, thanks to additional fencing and gates made possible by grant funding from the URC Southern Synod, all entrances to the garden will be fully open to visitors during the day and will be locked at night, once work is complete by the end of July.
Andrew Arrow, pre-construction director at Pilbeam Construction, a contractor based in Southwick, West Sussex which specialises in heritage schemes, said: "It is a real privilege to help the Brighthelm Church and Community Centre keep visitors safe by carrying out this important project.
"This is a landmark building in the North Laine and the garden has always been a popular place to sit or use as a through route, but sadly, it had become a magnet for antisocial behaviour.
"Our new fencing and gates have been designed to fit in with the Grade II Listed building and will make people safer."
The first phase of the £195,000 project started in November and completed at the end of May including installing railings and a gate at the entrance next to North Road, as well as electric gates for cars.
Work also involved adding railings and gates on Church Street, brickwork and installing new planters and working on a pedestrian gate.
Care has been taken to ensure the new railings match the existing cast iron railings.
Victorian arches were uncovered at the centre while Pilbeam carried out excavation works to construct a strip foundation to build a short wall with railings and a large cast iron double gate.
Bricks were discovered just below the surface which were later confirmed to be the arches. They were built during the Victorian era to accommodate the construction of the road from Brighton railway station down to the seafront.
After the discovery, Pilbeam incorporated the historic arches into construction by using them for the new brick wall, which has allowed for the wall and railing to be built exactly as it was before the wall was removed years ago.
In addition, Sussex contractor Pilbeam has helped the centre to fix its doors free of charge as part of its social value mission, which will avoid the cost of replacing them. It is also helping to widen the disabled access to the building.
The next phase will include repairing and installing railings on Queens Road and is due to complete in July 2026. Two new sections of wall will be built and a brand-new double gate installed.
The gardens are currently open to the public but without any through access, while works are carried out.
Brighthelm Centre building manager Ewan Hennelly said: "The enhanced safety of the garden will mean it can fully reopen to residents, the local nursery, church and music school.
"It's one of the few green spaces in central Brighton where people can relax and this work will make it a much more pleasant experience.
"The Pilbeam team have been working closely with us to minimise disruption. They have been great at explaining to members of the public why the work is being carried out and people have been extremely supportive of our efforts to make this a space everyone can enjoy."
The building was originally constructed in 1825 as a new home for the Central Free Church and incorporated the former Hanover Chapel.
The Brighthelm Church and Community Centre was founded in 1987 and today provides a home to third sector organisations, leading charities, small community driven businesses, meetings, events and conferences.
For more information please visit: https://www.pilbeamconstruction.co.uk/
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Editors notes
Pilbeam Construction, based in Southwick, West Sussex, began as a family firm of building contractors in 1955. Since then, it has grown into a 25-strong team specialising in the design, build and management of multi-million-pound projects within the residential, commercial, health & care, education, heritage and ecclesiastical sectors.
Chartered building company Pilbeam is ISO 9001 and 14001 accredited, CHAS accredited and registered with Constructionline. It was also a winner of a Sussex Heritage Trust Award in 2024.
