Sunspot, Jaywick Sands – A Seafront Community Business Centre

Transforming a contaminated brownfield site into an award-winning community hub on the Essex coast

Sunspot stands on the seafront at Jaywick Sands in Essex, a site that was previously contaminated, underused and in need of significant investment. Today it is a thriving community business centre, delivering affordable workspace and community facilities for one of the most deprived coastal communities in England. Widely described as a project that “does a lot with a little,” it has attracted national recognition and multiple major awards since completion.

Designed by HAT Projects and commissioned by Tendring District Council with support from the government’s Getting Building Fund, the development was shaped through extensive engagement with local residents, businesses and community groups. Completed late 2023 by contractor T J Evers Ltd, it provides 1,450m² of new accommodation across 24 affordable units.

The development includes:

24 affordable business units for startups, makers and small enterprises
A covered market hall supporting local traders and year-round events
A café and community gathering space
Flexible event and training rooms
Improved public realm, including parking and community gardens
Sustainable features including air source heat pumps and sustainable drainage

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The Challenge: A difficult site

The Sunspot site presented considerable challenges from the outset. As a former brownfield site on the beachfront, it required careful management of contamination risks, including the removal of asbestos and the resolution of underground obstructions. These hazards had significant cost and programme implications that needed to be managed rigorously throughout the build.

Potter Raper was appointed as Quantity Surveyors and worked proactively to keep costs under control at every stage. Our team monitored and managed the financial risk posed by the site’s condition, keeping the employer fully aware of obligations as conditions on the ground were assessed and resolved.

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Our Role

Appointed by Tendring District Council, Potter Raper provided Quantity Surveying services throughout the project. Our work spanned from early cost planning through to final account and included:

Budget management, managing budget expectations whereby complex ground conditions and contamination risks were encountered.
Financial oversight, managing the finances once the contract was in place and providing regular cost reporting to keep the employer informed.
Funding support, assisting in providing information to secure additional project funding.
Procurement advice and tender documentation, supporting the appointment of contractor T J Evers Ltd.
Risk management, acting as cost advisor throughout the remediation and construction phases to manage the financial implications of site obstructions and asbestos.

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Awards

Sunspot has received widespread recognition since completion:

Civic Trust Award – 2026
Special Award for Community Impact & Engagement – Civic Trust Awards 2025
RIBA East Award – 2025
Best Use of Brownfield Land in Placemaking – Planning Awards 2024
Highly Commended – MacEwen Award 2023
Named one of Rowan Moore’s Top 5 Architecture Projects of 2023 – The Guardian

These awards reflect both the quality of HAT Projects’ design and the project’s exceptional contribution to the Jaywick Sands community. The Civic Trust’s Special Award for Community Impact & Engagement is given only to schemes that demonstrate outstanding social contribution – a testament to the collaborative ethos behind Sunspot’s delivery.

We are proud to have contributed to a project that continues to receive national recognition and, more importantly, is making a real difference to the lives of local residents.

Visit our Sunspot project page to find out more – click here.