Town to Sea Creative Quarter
Hastings Commons
Arts, Culture & Heritage
Project Description
This project focuses on the popular White Rock area in Hastings town centre, where in recent years the area has grown as a creative quarter, and The Towns Fund investment will ensure the ongoing community-led regeneration approach is continued and its ambition is achieved with the further refurbishment of three large and vacant buildings, bringing them back into use. It will increase community engagement within the town through arts, culture, wellbeing and digital services for everyone, especially the next generation.
Images Ⓒ Hastings Commons 2023
Update March 2026
12 Claremont and Eagle House have reopened.
12 Claremont is a vibrant and inclusive creative space, populated with a mix of tenants with a focus on the creative community arts hub and include a gallery for Project Art Works, filmmakers, architects, a creative agency and arts therapists.
Find out more about the newly opened gallery space for Project Art Works here: 12 Claremont – a Gallery and Project Space - Project Art Works
Eagle House re-opened after extensive construction work in February 2026 and is where the Common Room is located, which is the public living room and space for various engagement events. The Hastings Commons Youth programme is also based in the since funding from the Youth Investment Fund was granted
More details can viewed here: The Common Room – Hastings Commons
OBX isthe Creative Technology hub for Hastings Commons. We are based on the lower floor in Eagle House. We work with local communities and artists to run workshops, talks, exhibitions and arts projects.
Find out more about OBX here: OBX – Hastings Commons
Project Justification
These interlinked building projects will rescue three buildings (Eagle House, 12 Claremont and the Observer Building) and deliver:
A Creative Digital Hub supporting emerging enterprises and learners of all ages with digital facilities, highspeed IT infrastructure, dedicated VR studio and large multi-use hall space.
A Wellbeing Centre with a Public Living Room, 12 homes for people leaving supported accommodation; and new commercial uses that lead into a new piece of town centre public realm; a Gallery and Event space, creative artist studios and a community hub. Working with Project Art Works, the space will become ultra-accessible for disabled people, bringing those with support needs into the centre of our community.
12 Claremont visual - ground floor
12 Claremont - loft space
Eagle House - exterior render
Eagle House - internal render
Since 2014, Hastings Commons has brought over 8,000 sqm of floorspace into custodian ownership across the centre of Hastings, renovating them to a high quality, offering genuinely affordable rents, and supporting residents and business to collaborate and take more control of where they live and work.
The goal is secure community ownership forever, through the Hastings Commons Community Land Trust.
Outputs & Outcomes
• Bringing into use three historic buildings (1928 sq meters of formerly dilapidated space) in the central Hastings conservation area
• Three new, upgraded, and protected community hubs/spaces supporting local inclusive growth
• An increase in community engagement throughout the town, particularly with a focus on the next generation
• 12 new housing units created
• Creation of a gallery 110m² (one enterprise) and nine incubation studios; 300m² digital / film innovation facilities and two new public spaces
• 20 new jobs
Project Timeline
Business Case completion: Autumn 2021
Design & planning applications (as required): Autumn 2021
Planning approvals: Winter 2021 / Spring 2022
Contractor appointment: Spring / Summer 2022
Start on site: Summer 2022 / Autumn 2022
Completion: Spring 2023 / Summer 2023
The timeline for Eagle House and 12 Claremont:
Planning permission was received in November 2023
Tender for the main contractors went out in January 2024
Contractors to be appointed for both buildings by March 2024
Work to be completed and both buildings are now open as of Soring 2026.
Below are published public documents relating to the project. Other documents will be published as they become available:
Project Delivery
The project will be delivered through a partnership between Hastings Commons (formally White Rock Neighbourhood Ventures (WRNV) and Hastings Commons Community Land Trust and the charity, Leisure & Learning. Hastings Commons has successfully led social and physical regeneration projects and are the developer delivering the restoration of the Observer Building in Hastings.
Costs & Funding
| Total Funding | £12,162,203 |
| Town Fund | £3,997,203 |
| Other Funding | £8,615,000 |