Hastings submits four proposals for £1m investment

The proposals, put together by the Hastings Town Deal, will use funding offered to all Town Deal areas for use on building projects.

They must be able to be completed by March 2021 as well as meet other specific conditions set out by government.

Hastings has been allocated up to £1m to spend.

The four projects put forward are:

– The White Rock Baths (part of The Source Park), to re-develop the remainder of the site that has been derelict for decades. The funding will be used refurbish and re-open the units around the outdoor courtyard, transforming them into unique market-style retail and food outlets.

– An employment, events and advice hub at East Sussex College Group’s Station Plaza building. This will repurpose part of the ground floor to offer a; one-stop shop employability/job seeking centre where job centre plus, employers, careers advisors and employability organisations can all provide help to those needing a job or skills in a new job, a conference/training facility and a tourism training hub for students.

– Increasing the electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the seafront/town centre car parks, through the installation of additional fast electric vehicle charging points. This will allow opportunities for visitors with electric vehicles to travel more confidently to our town as well as contribute to ambitions in our Climate Emergency Strategy

– Creating new retail, training and outdoor space at ‘Hastings Commons’ located in the Lower Alley behind Claremont, continuing the ongoing improvements to the alley area and adding to the ever growing independent and quirky America Ground, Rock House and Observer building quarter.

Carole Dixon, Town Deal Board co-chairman said: “A call for proposals was broadcast through the Town Deal Board, local councillors and through their associated networks. Other organisations also assisted with the call for proposals; promoting the opportunity through their channels, which resulted in a range of strong projects being submitted. Also assessed were proposals submitted through the council’s website for the Town Deal.

“Through these expressions of interest it was possible to identify potential projects that met the criteria for the accelerated fund and which meet the needs in the borough.”

Graham Peters, Town Deal Board co-chairman added: “These projects will bring investment to different areas of the town, including providing premises for small businesses, aiding recovery of the post COVID-19 economy, investing in low carbon infrastructure, while also providing new amenity and training spaces, all playing to the town’s strengths and driving the economy towards a more vibrant future.”

Cllr Kim Forward, leader of Hastings Borough Council, said the submitted proposals will offer the town’s economy a ‘huge boost’.

“This funding will provide substantial support for our town’s future and provide development opportunities that will benefit businesses, residents and encourage visitors to our unique town,” she said.

Philip Johnson, Director for Locate East Sussex, added: “Locate East Sussex was delighted to work alongside Hastings Borough Council officers to provide an independent perspective on the impressive range and quality of proposals. Whether successful through this process or not, every proposal submitted is contributing to the development of the wider Town Deal process.

“The four recommended projects were assessed alongside all others submitted against his programme’s eligibility criteria and their ability to be finished by March 2021. This £1m fund and the wider Town Deal programme is an exciting prospect for Hastings, helping to not only regenerate our town through building, but also contributing towards wider regional ambitions to support economic growth and attract new investment and businesses to the area.”