Hastings Council rejects Community Asset bid for St Leonards Convent site

The bid was made by the Save the Convent Group. Once a building of are is listed as an Asset of Community Value with the local authority, the local community will be informed if they are listed for sale within the five year listing period. The community can then enact the Community Right to Bid, which gives them a moratorium period of six months to determine if they can raise the finance to purchase the asset.

The 4.76ha site of the former Convent of the Holy Child Jesus on Magdalen Road has been allocated within the Local Plan for a potential 200 homes and is currently being offered for sale.

After closing as a language school, the site fell into disrepair and suffered from vandalism. In July this year a major fire broke out on the third floor of the disused complex following an arson attack.

Responding to the Asset of Community Value application, Stephen Dodson, Head of Strategic Programmes at Hastings Borough Council, said: “Hastings Borough Council has now completed its determination for the nomination.

"On consideration by the panel it was determined that the application fails to demonstrate a non-ancillary use that furthers the social well-being of the local community. This is a statutory test and the Council does not have discretion to depart from this test.

"The community events referred to in the nomination were considered ancillary to the site’s previous use as a language school. The council has therefore determined the land does not meet the statutory definition and will not be included in the council’s list of Assets.”

The news was met with disappointment by members of the group, with one member calling the decision ‘disgraceful’.

Another member said: “This historic building and its land will disappear, gone forever and nothing is being done to stop it.”

Cllr Mark Etherington, lead councillor for planning, infrastructure and regulatory services, said in August: “We had more than 2,300 comments from more than 540 individuals and organisations, and our planning policy team has carefully considered all of them.

“Many people have also expressed concern about the former convent site on Magdalen Road. The development brief for the site seeks to balance the protection and long-term future of its important historic buildings with the need to provide much-needed homes and secure a positive future for the location. We are keen to work constructively with the site owners and any future development partners.”