SHRA has no involvement in the running of the Community Centre. All enquiries should be made to Wave Leisure Trust.
Latest - In May 2023 the Centre re-opened after a couple of years use as a NHS Covid vaccination centre. To mark the re-opening, Wave Leisure held an Open Day at the Centre for residents, local groups and organisations. Click here for an event poster... 
If you let us know about them, we would be happy to promote community centre events on the SHRA website and in Waterlines: webmaster@shra.co.uk
Ever since its establishment in 2000, the SHRA campaigned for a purpose-built community centre as envisaged by the developers in the original plans. Despite promises and commitments by the developers and local Councils over the ensuing years, it was not until 2015 that a plan was submitted for the construction of a community centre on Site 5 opposite the Yacht Club.
Eastbourne Borough Council (EBC) appointed Sea Change Sussex, a not-for-profit economic development company, to oversee delivery of the project. Wave Leisure Trust, a charitable not-for-profit trust, was commissioned by the Council to assist the Sovereign Harbour Community Association (SHCA - see panel on right), on all aspects of managing the community centre.
In 2016, the Site 5 land was found to be contaminated and was withdrawn. An alternative area was offered on Site 7 for a reduced-size centre. SHRA and SHCA thought that the offered location was unsuitable, and believed that the reduced size made their commercial plans unviable. They decided to sever their involvement in the project.
In early 2017, EBC and East Sussex County Council (ESCC) announced that they had acquired a plot of land for the community centre on Site 6, adjacent to the road leading into the Retail Park.
With Sea Change Sussex overseeing the project, construction begun in mid 2017. Although the main construction work was completed within a year, the fitting out and the connection of the utilities was delayed many times. Somewhat premature, drop-in launch events were arranged by EBC in March 2018 in Pacific House. These gave information about the centre and sought residents views on its uses. Click here for event's flyer... However, it was not until December 2019 that events were able to take place in the centre.
As noted above, EBC appointed Wave Leisure Trust to assist the SHCA on all aspects of managing the community centre. Following the SHCA's withdrawal from the project, Wave Leisure Trust oversee the management of the Centre until other arrangements can be made. The SHRA committee is concerned that currently there is no direct local involvement in the running of the community centre.
Sport Eastbourne Sites
Wave Leisure Trust Ltd
Downs Leisure Centre
Sutton Road
Seaford
BN25 4QW
tel: 01323 509859
mobile: 07394 565471
email: info@waveleisure.co.uk
website: www.waveleisure.co.uk
website: www.sporteastbourne.co.uk/sovereign-harbour-community-centre/
The Harbour Community Association (HCA) was established in 2010 with the objective of identifying the social requirements of the Sovereign Harbour community and enabling the provision of venues. A longer term aim was to secure the community centre and to maintain and manage it in co-operation with other interested parties.
The SHCA withdrew when the original location was changed and the building size downgraded.
Money that the SHCA had collected from donations made by residents,
SHRA and other organisations for kitting out the community centre totalled over £3,200 and was spent on the centre's furniture and fittings, a hoover and a defibrillator.