TrioPlus, who are members of the TIA, are part of a design team selected by Eastbourne Borough Council to transform the home of the Aegon International tournament
Devonshire Park, one of Britain’s most historic tennis venues, is looking to the future. Eastbourne Borough Council wants to transform the park into “one of the UK’s most distinctive and talked about cultural places”.
Tennis has been played at Devonshire Park since the 1870s. The park has been used as a local tennis centre, has hosted Davis Cup ties and been a venue for the Aegon International since 1974, when Chris Evert won the title. The American Madison Keys lifted the trophy in 2014, while previous winners include Justine Henin, Kim Clijsters, Caroline Wozniacki and Marion Bartoli.
As well as the International Lawn Tennis Centre, which features more than 18 grass courts, Devonshire Park is also home to three Grade II listed theatres, an art gallery and conference facilities.
Eastbourne Borough Council recently appointed heritage architects Levitt Bernstein with TrioPlus Sport and Leisure, who are members of the TIA, to develop designs for the park. Ideas include improving the park’s connection to the seafront and town centre, the addition of a “Welcome Pavilion” and landscaping of the park. As part of the proposed designs the tennis facilities are planned to be enhanced.
Phil Sandilands, a Director of TrioPlus, said: “A lot of work will be done between now and the end of January 2015 to look at the feasibility, the impacts, the cost plan, the spaces that are required and how it fits with an overall business plan.”
Levitt Bernstein and TrioPlus will produce a RIBA Stage 2 Report which will be presented for discussion at the Cabinet Council meeting in March 2015. The Council will then make a decision whether to run with the designs and go ahead with the development.