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
In December 2023 Hastings Borough Council launched a bid for proposals amongst 17 housing providers, to delivery affordable housing in the town centre, this closed in January 2024.
One full response was received from Hastings Commons to deliver 12 new homes within the Observer Building. The proposal was approved by the Town Investment Panel in June 2024. You can view details in the Town Deal Board meeting report here.
£1m funding has been allocated from the Town Deal programme to support this project and the delivery of 12 affordable, sustainable and energy efficient homes within Hastings town centre.
Latest details can be viewed here.
Please visit the Hastings Commons FAQs page which addresses some commonly asked questions around the project and further information about the Commons.
For any questions please email towndeal@hastings.gov.uk