Key sites update in Hastings
Hastings Town Centre Regeneration
In December 2022, Homes England and Hastings Borough Council commissioned Lambert Smith Hampton and Tibbalds to review and advise on the market potential for regeneration of Hastings Town Centre, to understand the opportunities for delivering new homes, commercial leisure and cultural facilities. As part of this work, the consultants produced a report outlining their recommended next steps which is set out below:
This report grouped the next steps and actions into five broad themes:
Developing a Strategic Regeneration & Investment Framework (SRIF) that encompasses the whole of the Hastings town centre area
Establishing Leadership and Governance Structures – a ‘task force’
Community and stakeholder engagement
Capacity Support
Viability and Delivery
This work is being progressed at the moment and will encompass public consultation and various exercises and is due for completion in the Autumn of 2024.
Station Plaza – Station Yard
Situated at the corner of South Terrace and Devonshire Road, this area of the Station Plaza has been vacant since the construction of the college, healthcare centre and car park in 2010. Planning application for 3 residential blocks was granted in 2008. Hastings Borough Council has engaged with the new owners of the site, Purple Pepper Homes and work has started on the construction of 103 quality 1, 2 and 3 bed apartments, with associated amenity space, car parking and bicycle storage.
Completion is targeted for Spring 2025.
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 in December 2023. A planning application has been submitted for Change of Use to 42 residential dwellings and commercial Space in May 2023; a decision is pending.
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. Some 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.
Queensbury House
Situated opposite Hastings station, this vacant building was recently sold at auction. Permitted development rights 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. The current developers submitted a commencement notice and planning application to redesign the elevations in March 2024.