Hastings Commons celebrates 10 years of neighbourhood transformation

Hastings Commons this month celebrates ten years since its founding organisations embarked on their first building renovation in 2014. At that time, local people had already saved Hastings Pier from the brink of destruction and they turned their attention to the wider neighbourhood which was suffering from severe dereliction. Technological change had destroyed the old FJ Parsons publishing empire, leaving redundant, rotting buildings dragging down the small edge-of-town-centre White Rock neighbourhood. The 1920s Observer Building was both the biggest problem and the best-loved building, but it turned out to be the 1969 office block next door that would prove the key to the wider solution.

In October 2014, White Rock Neighbourhood Ventures (now Hastings Commons Neighbourhood Ventures Ltd or HCNV) took vacant possession of Rock House and successfully developed the property into six flats, 20 workspaces and Ground Control (a co-working hub). By 2019, HCNV were able to use Rock House as security to buy the Observer Building next door and in the five years since purchase, most of the Observer Building has been renovated and is now in use – with work currently underway on the public roof terrace and soon to start on developing a further 12 affordable homes.

Jess Steele, Founder, Investor and CEO of Hastings Commons, said: “It’s a constant process of evolution, phased organic development, and productive improvisation. One of our principles is to adapt and to learn as we go. Regeneration is unpredictable – you have to proceed in good faith and stay responsive. We’ve turned neglected buildings into thriving hubs, affordable homes, and vibrant social spaces, using the idea of the commons – we look out for each other and we look after the place.”

Over the decade, an eclectic ‘ecosystem’ of organisations came together to make positive change at the neighbourhood level. They have created a case study of community led regeneration – one that challenges the false binary of gentrification or decline. In 2022 these organisations took the shared brand, Hastings Commons, but they remain separate entities – a community land trust, a social enterprise property company, a registered charity and a housing company.

Alongside and in between Rock House and the Observer Building, a whole series of other local buildings (including 5 caves!) have been acquired with renovations either complete or underway. All the buildings are restored to high standards with a focus on sustainability, genuinely affordable rents, and inclusive, accessible facilities.

These once-derelict spaces now house local residents, small businesses and start-ups, fostering collaboration and creativity. In addition to the regeneration of buildings, Hastings Commons delivers a dynamic programme of activities, inspired and led by varied communities in Hastings, including Hastings Youth Commons (young people aged 11-18), OBX Creative Technology Hub, Alley Way Learning Project (peer-to-peer learning across different communities in Hastings), and the development of a 5-year community-driven heritage strategy for the coastal strip.

Ten years in, Hastings Commons is at an exciting moment – a strong track record behind it, challenging developments currently underway, and important opportunities ahead to create an even bigger scale of impact with ongoing developments of homes and community spaces. As one of 25 ‘pathfinders’ chosen by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation to explore community-led responses to the polycrisis, Hastings Commons is also collaborating with other community organisations across the country – from playing a leading role in the Mycelium Network of community asset developers to setting up an international hosting centre where people can learn about community-led regeneration.

As the UK Government places increasing emphasis on housing and community development, the example of Hastings Commons will be vital in demonstrating how local solutions can drive meaningful, lasting change.