Eastbourne: Moira House School fire 'a real tragedy', says developer

Emergency services were called to the former school building in Upper Carlisle Road after 5.40pm on Sunday, October 19.

Eight fire engines were used to tackle the blaze which is believed to have been ‘started deliberately’, according to Sussex Police.

The historic girls school, which closed in 2020, was set to be developed into 33 apartments and 19 houses. It received planning permission in 2022 and work had begun late last year (2024).

Developer James Taylor, CEO of This Is Home UK, revealed last night (Sunday) that the building was ‘absolutely, completely gutted’.

He told the Eastbourne Herald: “It’s just terrible. We’ll definitely lose the school house, which is a real tragedy.

"It’s made me feel incredibly sad about the whole thing.

"We’ve met so many people who went to school there and it means an awful lot to them.

"When you talk to people, you completely get how the community is affected like this.”

Mr Taylor said his brother had discovered the building was on fire and called the fire brigade.

"He went to get a fire extinguisher from his van but by the time he came back he realised it was just too big a thing,” Mr Taylor added.

Sussex Police are seeking to trace four boys believed to have entered the site earlier in the afternoon.

Mr Taylor added: “The main thing is that no one’s hurt.

“Thank god it’s not spreading to any neighbouring buildings.

“The fire service are doing an amazing job.”

Mr Taylor added that the section of the building destroyed by fire was supposed to be ‘the centrepiece of the new development’.