Cuckoo Trail
Client: Wealden District Council
Funding: Levelling-Up Fund
Landscape Masterplan: Allen Scott Landscape
Completion: 2025
RIBA Stages: 1-3
Partners: Allen Scott Landscape / Landmark
Feasibility and Concept Design for Kiosks on the Cuckoo Trail
We were asked to partner with Allen Scott Landscape Architects to produce design ideas for amenity kiosks along The Cuckoo Trail, an 11-mile stretch of former railway line between Polegate and Heathfield. A site in Horam where the original train station stood, was identified for the first phase of works.
Sharpe Architecture was appointed to carry out the initial feasibility design study and develop the preferred option towards a planning application. We presented initial options to Wealden District Council that each referenced the history of the old railway line, railway buildings and traditional materials.
The kiosk’s design evolved into a modern reinterpretation of the former railway shelter that once occupied the site. The original structure was defined by its large overhanging canopy, pitched roof, and decorative fretwork. In response, we refined and simplified the building’s form, preserving the most characterful elements of its history. Scalloped shingles were chosen to evoke the ornamental mouldings traditionally found in railway architecture.
Now under construction, with the works being undertaken by Wealden District Council’s in - house team, the kiosk will soon provide vital facilities for the community and users of the trail. Its arrival will support everyday needs — offering a place to have a coffee or snack, along with access to a toilet — making the trail more accessible, convenient, and enjoyable for locals and visitors alike. Once complete it will become a valuable point of amenity along the route, enhancing the experience of everyone who uses the space and contributing positively to the wider community.