A heritage-led transformation of Sussex’s most significant coastal fortification

Completed in 1871, Newhaven Fort is a popular visitor attraction which showcases 19th-century military engineering ingenuity and occupies a commanding position on the Sussex coastline. Like many historic military sites, it had become increasingly difficult to maintain, resulting in a number of key spaces being closed to the public due to safety concerns.

Pritchard Architecture guided sensitive repairs to numerous historic structures across the site, including gun emplacements, casemates and WWII structures. Extensive masonry conservation, structural repairs, and carefully designed interventions brought long-neglected areas back into public use—some for the first time in decades.

A new adventure playground installed within the parade ground, alongside upgraded exhibitions and visitor facilities, helped shift the Fort’s appeal beyond its traditional military audience, engaging families, schools, and local residents alike.

Our design strategy balanced the protection of heritage with radical interventions to secure a sustainable future for the fort. Working closely with Historic England and a multidisciplinary team to develop innovative conservation solutions. Heritage constraints were embraced as opportunities, revealing original features, improving functionality, and designing new elements that were clearly contemporary yet respectful. These thoughtful interventions not only respected the Fort’s historic significance but also reenergised its role as Newhaven’s most treasured cultural and civic asset.

Since completion, Newhaven Fort has welcomed unprecedented visitor numbers, proving the success of the design’s community-focused vision. This forward-thinking approach to heritage adaptation sets a benchmark for the reuse of Palmerston forts and other military structures across the UK—demonstrating how intelligent, conservation-led design can secure the future of historic places while opening them up to new generations.