‘We need homes, not holiday lets’: Opposition over approved holiday lets, flats and shops development on Hastings arcade blaze site
Residents have criticised developers' plans to build holiday homes, flats and shops on the site of a Hastings amusement arcade destroyed by fire.
Oasis Developments Hastings Ltd wants to build 20 flats, six holiday lets and four commercial units on the site in George Street, Old Town.
Hastings Borough Council granted approval on October 22 stating that construction must start within two years.
However some residents poured scorn on the plans, commenting on the Observer's Facebook page.
Emily Baker said: “We don't need holiday lets and more shops; we need housing.”
In response Scott Kensett-Hopkins said: “We have enough empty shops nobody wants; why add more? As for the state of the town, it's not exactly pulling in holidaymakers; perhaps day-trippers at best on a nice day. Let's talk about affordable social housing, and perhaps that would be a proposal the rest of us residents could get behind and support.”
Trevor Jones said: “A site like that would be great for bedsits like we had in the 70s/80s: low-cost accommodation for local people.”
And Claire Blower said: “There's already more than enough empty shops and holiday lets. Something has to change, we need more homes for local people.”
However Danny Rowe said: “Why is everyone down on holiday flats? It seems sensible that we need to drive up our tourism. We could do this in conjunction with having a massive splash pad on the old bathing site, alongside a cycle scheme for Hastings, come by train and still get around.”
Terry Spencer said: "Why not a hub for young people? A fitness centre and indoor sports - five-a-side football, badminton, volleyball, cricket, and lots more - with a restaurant and bar with a disco for later in the day.”
Others called for the development to start as soon as possible.
Vanessa Eden said: “Hurry up, it's an eyesore at the moment.”
Celina Carney-Green said: “About time something was done with it. Looks awful at the start of George Street.”
In March Hastings Borough Council said it would take enforcement action against Oasis Developments over the state of the site, issuing a Section 215 notice, which local authorities use to require landowners/occupiers to clean up land or buildings that adversely affect the area.
In December 2025, the council had urged the company to start tidying up the site at 39-41 George Street.
Oasis Developments Hastings Ltd said in March this year that a 'significant part of the delay' in redeveloping the site was due to the 'planning process' and the 'time taken for the council to determine the application'.
An application to demolish the amusement arcade building at 39 and 40 George Street was made in October 2022 and later withdrawn.
The application to redevelop the site was made in June 2023.
The blaze at the former amusement arcade and nightclub broke out on January 18, 2023.
Firefighters and 10 pumps spent all night tackling the blaze. Sussex Police said the fire was treated as a ‘deliberate ignition’.
Work to knock down the building started in April 2023 and demolition was completed in August that year.
The three-storey building was previously an amusement arcade and a nightclub.
The building was sold for redevelopment into 20 flats in November 2022.
A design and access statement, on behalf of the application, said: “The proposed development is a true mixed use development, which provides clearly defined functions, all of which will positively contribute to George Street as well as the wider Old Town area.”
It said the scheme will provide 'quality' commercial premises, holiday let accommodation that will attract 'high-spending' visitors to Hastings, and large flats for families.
A Hastings Borough Council spokesperson said: “The Section 106 legal agreement has now been completed and planning permission for the redevelopment has been granted. This is an important step forward, although the applicant must still submit further information and obtain approval for the conditions that need to be met before the main development can begin.
“The council has asked the applicant to progress these requirements urgently. The applicant has confirmed that work on the necessary submissions is beginning, but we do not yet have a confirmed date for construction to start.”