Town Living

Urban Regeneration, Planning & Land Use

 

Project Description 

The Town Living project has been developed to deliver quality, affordable housing which is highly sustainable and energy efficient. It is focused on improving our town’s housing stock and creating more diversity within the town centre demographics by repurposing and regenerating poor quality housing and / or provision of newly built homes in the town centre.

Hastings Borough Council has seen a continued increase in demand for its housing services, which has been caused by a lack of affordable housing. The accommodation that is available can vary considerably in quality, particularly in the private rented sector.

 

Project Justification 

High quality housing is essential to attracting private investment in the town centre. Current conditions of the stock can give the perception of decline, neglect and under-investment. Investing in new ‘shiny’ buildings and the public realm without investment in the area’s housing fabric may undermine all efforts. It may also displace populations if success is achieved.

There are growing numbers of households in Hastings who cannot access affordable accommodation in the social or private rented sectors. There are over 1,500 households waiting for a social rented home and less than 200 properties let each year. The private rented sector, which is disproportionately high in the town centre, has seen significant rental increases and is now unaffordable for many residents.

❝ Invest this money in more affordable housing and support for the homeless long term.

— Hasting resident

Outputs & Outcomes

  • Increasing the supply of long-term social housing in the town centre

  • Providing residents with more secure long-term tenancies

  • Improving health and wellbeing outcomes for residents

  • Lowering emissions from modern technologies employed in refurbishment of the new homes

  • Producing savings in energy costs to household budgets

  • Improving perception of the town centre as place to live

Project Delivery

Hastings Borough Council is currently seeking a local housing provider to partner with and deliver approximately 12 new homes in the town centre by March 2026. These homes will be for those prioritised on the Council’s waiting list.  

£1m funding has been allocated from the Town Deal programme to support this project.

For further details please email towndeal@hastings.gov.uk