MP secures £1 million in the Budget to revive derelict buildings in Hastings

This investment is intended to bring empty and derelict buildings back into use, put communities back in control of valued local assets and breathe new life into high streets.

Hastings has many well-known empty buildings such as St Mary's in the Castle, Azur, Queensbury House, and the old Argos building.

This money is in addition to the £21.5 million Pride in Place fund secured by Helena Dollimore MP to improve Hastings over the next 10 years.

The Labour MP launched a campaign to tackle empty shops in Hastings earlier this year, calling on Hastings Borough Council to use the new High Street Rental Auction Powers given to them by the Government to bring some of Hastings's empty shops and units back into use.

Rother District Council, Thanet Council and many others are already using these powers, but Hastings Borough Council has yet to do so.

The MP said: "I am delighted to have secured £1 million in the Budget to do up derelict buildings around Hastings. We have so many wonderful buildings in Hastings, but too many of them from St Mary's in the Castle to Azur are sitting there empty.

"I have been campaigning to bring derelict buildings back into use and bring our town centre back to life. Hundreds of local residents signed my petition calling on Hastings Borough Council to take action on empty units around our town, and I have also been raising this issue in Parliament and with Ministers.

Helena Dollimore has launched a residents' survey for local residents to give their views on which buildings should be prioritised for this fund and said: “I am asking local residents to give their views on which buildings should be the priority for this money."