Decision looms for development of former private hospital in Eastbourne

A blueprint to convert the former private Esperance Hospital in Eastbourne town centre into 48 flats looks set to be approved by planners next Tuesday.
The Esperance Hospital in Eastbourne (Photo by Jon Rigby) SUS-190404-094004008The Esperance Hospital in Eastbourne (Photo by Jon Rigby) SUS-190404-094004008
The Esperance Hospital in Eastbourne (Photo by Jon Rigby) SUS-190404-094004008

The facility in Hartington Place closed last year and an application to redevelop the site by Stonegate Homes Ltd was submitted to Eastbourne planners earlier this year.

The development company wants to convert the former convent’s existing buildings in Hartington Place to provide 30 one-bed flats, 16 two bed apartments and two flats with three bedrooms. There would be 29 car parking spaces.

The development would not include any affordable housing.

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The plans are set to be approved by councillors at a meeting of the planning committee next Tuesday (October 20).

In a report prepared by planners to go before the committee, officers said the development is considered to “provide a good quality of proposed accommodation, taking into consideration the constraints of the site”.

The original building was purchased by the nursing branch of the Holy Family of Bordeaux Sisters for £5,000 in 1917 and the nurses continued caring for the sick in the area before it became a private hospital.