Proposal for new educational centre at Hastings Debenhams building approved
Plans to convert part of the former Debenhams building in Hastings into an educational centre for teenagers have been approved.
London Learning Consortium, based in Croydon, applied to the council for permission to change the use of the first and second floors of the Robertson Street property, which houses the closed Owens games arcade, from commercial use to educational use.
A design and access statement by Haines Phillips Architects, on behalf of the applicant said: “The application is simply for a change of use of an area of the first and second floors at the above property from Class E (commercial) to Class F1 (educational).
“The application is being made by a new tenant who is an education provider of fully-funded courses for 16- 18-year-olds. The change of use does not involve any external changes to the existing building.”
Following the council’s granting of the scheme, a report from the authority's planning services manager said: “It is considered that the proposed change of use is acceptable in that it aids in bringing a vacant town centre premises back into use, while ensuring no detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the conservation area, neighbouring residential amenity, highway safety and parking and refuse arrangements. As such, the application is recommended for approval.”
Builders from C Salmons Builders Ltd are currently stripping the inside of the vacant building to make way for the new centre, the company said.
The former Debenhams building in its entirety became available to let via commercial property agents Dyer & Hobbis in November 2024 following the closure of Owens.
The property covers around 80,000 sq ft.
Moxie Management Two Ltd, which bought the site in January 2020, said in October 2024 it was looking at a number of potential uses for the property.
Owens opened at the former Debenhams building in Robertson Street in October 2022. It was awarded funding from the Towns Fund investment after being added to the Hastings Town Deal programme in summer 2022 with the aim of creating 35 new jobs.
The Towns Fund was announced by the Government in 2019 and set up to support an initial 101 places across England to develop a Town Deal proposal for regeneration.
However, in September 2023 Owens put out a statement saying the attraction was closing ‘due to unforeseen circumstances’.
In September 2024, wooden boards were placed all across the rear and front of Owens.
A separate proposal concerning the vacant building - a premises license - was granted by the council's licensing panel in October 2025, which will allow a bar, trading as Players Sports Bar, to operate within the site, with access from Robertson Terrace.