Newhaven, famed for its ferry to Dieppe, is an important freight terminal so is full of the industrial baggage that comes with it.

But since the closure of an eyesore scrap heap that bothered residents for 21 years, the town is going from strength to strength. 

People are working hard to rejuvenate the town, including those running the project Look Again Newhaven which aimed to add colour to the town by decorating blank walls with art this summer.

These include a painting of a 20-foot cat on the side of a home in Ship Street, which has garnered hundreds of visitors.

Among the new businesses opening are Mamoosh Bakery, which has opened a deli and cafe next to the water's edge at the UTC building close to the train station and ferry.

Newhaven is known for its ferry route to Dieppe in France (Image: Philip Carter/The Argus Camera Club)

This is proving very popular, as is the reopened Harvey's pub The Bridge Inn. 

Also jazzing up Newhaven is the enterprise zone, a collaboration with key local partners, including Lewes District Council.

The Newhaven Enterprise Zone (NEZ) has a number of goals, including developing new commercial spaces and refurbishing existing ones.

H. Ripley's Newhaven scrapheap closed earlier this year

One of its projects is to give grants to businesses to help make shopfronts look more attractive.

READ MORE: Joy as eyesore scrapheap to be cleared and moved after 21 years

NEZ is inviting companies in the town centre to apply for a share of £100,000.

The site of The Bridge Inn in Newhaven, pictured here in 2022 before it reopened (Image: Google Maps)

Corinne Day, programme director at NEZ, said: "As the town’s reputation as a hub for industry, marine and creative businesses grows and it attracts more businesses to the commercial space it offers, having an updated town centre is just one of the factors that will build on its success as we look to transform Newhaven into a major contributor to the Sussex economy by 2030.

"We hope this will help them on their way to a busy future as the town attracts more visitors to its growing arts programme.”

Newhaven town centre (Image: Newhaven Enterprise Zone)

A large waste incinerator, with 65-metre chimneys rising above its huge roofs, remains.

But, the new Liberal Democrat MP James MacCleary, previously said he would make the reopening of West Beach a priority once elected. 

“The beach is a long-running saga,” he said. “For me politically, and as a resident, I desperately want to get it reopened to the public.” 

An artist's impression of what the revamped promenade should look like (Image: Lewes District Council)

Plans to redevelop the promenade above the West Beach were approved by Lewes District Council in July.

The scheme will see the promenade transformed with a new 296m2 restaurant, outdoor gym, children’s play area and improved pedestrian links.

Councillor Zoe Nicholson, leader of Lewes District Council, said the revamp will bring the “wow factor” to the area and is part of Newhaven’s “renaissance”.

On a recent visit to the town, Greg Dickinson, senior travel writer at The Telegraph, said: "With an emerging arts scene and a clutch of new restaurants, there’s a sense of optimism in Newhaven – now it hopes to reclaim its sands."