COUNTY NEWS: Major £500m harbour plan unveiled for East Sussex town

By The Newsroom
Published 1st Sep 2017, 14:02 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 21:44 BST
Hastings Old Town. Photo courtesy of Google Earth. SUS-170830-211256001Hastings Old Town. Photo courtesy of Google Earth. SUS-170830-211256001
Hastings Old Town. Photo courtesy of Google Earth. SUS-170830-211256001
A major £500m plan to regenerate an East Sussex town has been unveiled today (Friday) for the first time.

The ambitious Hastings Harbour Quarter project will see more than half a billion pounds of investment pumped into the town creating jobs, extra parking, more homes and a state-of-the-art working marina for up to 600 vessels.

Preserving and enhancing Hastings’ unique maritime heritage for generations to come is said to be at the heart of the new development.

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Construction of a new harbour will provide jobs in the area, from construction jobs through to the ultimate job creation connected with the operation of the harbour, new public realm, marina and many associated facilities and attractions.

Rock-a-Nore, Hastings Old Town. SUS-170831-112859001Rock-a-Nore, Hastings Old Town. SUS-170831-112859001
Rock-a-Nore, Hastings Old Town. SUS-170831-112859001

It is also intended to provide in the region of 1,300 much-needed houses, including homes for harbour and key workers.

As part of the process, Hastings Harbour Quarter – a newly-former company which will undertake the development – will be consulting with the public and interested parties over the size, location and access arrangements.

Andrew Doyle, director of Hastings Harbour Quarter, said: “This is truly a transformational potential development for the people of Hastings. The intention is to construct a ‘halo’ development as an exemplar for seaside towns and communities.

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“We believe that this development will provide many much-needed jobs and continue the regeneration of Hastings which has seen tremendous improvements in the last few years.”

An initial concept diagram of the Hastings Harbour Quarter. Image copyright Michael Drain Architects Ltd. SUS-170109-092237001An initial concept diagram of the Hastings Harbour Quarter. Image copyright Michael Drain Architects Ltd. SUS-170109-092237001
An initial concept diagram of the Hastings Harbour Quarter. Image copyright Michael Drain Architects Ltd. SUS-170109-092237001

He added: “The many elements of this project here mentioned will secure the prosperity and community of Hastings for generations, with growth and a thriving future for all the people of Hastings.”

HHQ said it also sees the proposal as a protective band for the cliff face and country park above, and that fishing industries and angling will have, for the first time, a safe harbour. It added there remains a great deal of work to confirm the harbour would, with public consultation and support, be viable.

Hastings Borough Council has confirmed it has started talking to partners about the possibility of developing a harbour, housing and transport improvements in the Old Town of Hastings.