Key sites update in Hastings
Hastings Town Centre Regeneration and work with Homes England
Over the past two years, Hastings Borough Council and Homes England have collaborated on regenerating the town centre, focusing on the area around Hastings Station. Two reports produced in 2023, "Hastings Station Gateway Key Findings" and "Hastings Station Gateway Market Review," assessed opportunities and outlined next steps, highlighting the need for public investment.
In 2024, baseline reports were produced to evaluate market conditions, engage with developers, identify opportunity sites, and address land assembly challenges. The reports aim to provide a comprehensive assessment, identify regeneration sites, and develop a strategic framework for investment. Following on from this assessment work, the council with funding support from Homes England, Hastings Borough Council has appointed a consultant team 31 Ten Consulting to support the council to develop plans to regenerate the town centre, focussing around the empty and underutilised buildings and spaces on Priory Street/Cornwallis Street.
Regular updates will be provided to the Town Deal Board and published with meeting minutes.
Station Plaza – Station Yard
Situated at the corner of South Terrace and Devonshire Road, this area of the Station Plaza was vacant since the construction of the college, healthcare centre and car park in 2010. The planning application for three residential blocks was granted in 2008. Hastings Borough Council has engaged with the new owners of the site, Purple Pepper Homes and work is well under way on the construction of 103 quality 1, 2 and 3 bed apartments, with associated amenity space, car parking and bicycle storage.
The first phase is targeted for completion in Spring 2025, with the remaining phase to be delivered in Autumn 2025.
For more details visit Station Plaza Hastings.
Image supplied by Purple Pepper Partnership Ltd
Former Brighton University Building, Priory Square Building
Located within the Priory Square Quarter, the former University of Brighton building was completed in 2013 and comprises the original 1930’s Post Office building fronting Cambridge Road, the building has been vacant since 2019. The building was sold to new owners, Stonegate Homes, in December 2023. A planning application has been submitted for Change of Use to 42 residential dwellings and commercial Space in May 2023 which was approved and can be viewed here.
We await further details from the building owners.
Priory Street Car Park
Early studies of the Priory Street Car Park showed the need for wider consideration of plans for the town centre. This work comes from progressing the Town Investment Plan Town Centre Core Projects. Initial concept proposals were developed for the site, but the development costs were significantly prohibitive leading to the funding for the project being re-allocated to the public realm and green connections project to boost investment. This is being further explored as part of the Town Centre Regeneration plans within the Hastings Town Centre Regeneration funded by Homes England.
Queensbury House
Situated opposite Hastings station, this vacant building was sold at auction in 2023. Permitted development rights which were granted in 2021 for proposed change of use from office space to 89 self-contained one-bedroom studio flats with cycle spaces and use of basement as refuse area, has now expired.
A Planning application was submitted in February 2025 and the outcome should be published in May 2025. You can view the details here.
Former Debenhams Building
A press release was issued by the owners of the building, Moxie Management Two in October 2024, providing an update on hopes for the future of the building Hastings Debenhams site owner reveals hopes for future of site. Moxie confirmed they are committed to staying in Hastings and are working hard to find a new use for the ground, first and second floors of the building.
The building is being advertised for let with a local agent and the council are working closely with Moxie with the intention to bring the vacated floors back into use. Further updates will be published when available.
Premier Inn, Cornwallis Street
The new Premier Inn hotel is being built on Cornwallis Street, replacing the former car park. The hotel will be is being built by Whitbread PLC and will feature 84 bedrooms and a ground floor restaurant.
The agreement for the land purchase was approved by Hastings Borough Council in 2024, with Whitbread funding the construction.
Details from the Cabinet meeting can be read here