Photo: Bernard McGinley

Public meeting arranged on proposed development on bathing pool site

It’s the year when development looks like getting under way on the old bathing pool site in West St Leonards, and local community groups have arranged a public meeting on Saturday 25 January to publicise the proposed plans, present their views on what is being proposed and invite residents to give their own opinions. Nick Terdre reports.

“It has come to our attention that County Gate/Generator Group plan to apply for Planning Permission for their proposed development on the Bathing Pool Site after consultation with the Community,” say Sobs – Save Our Bathing Site, which has arranged the meeting together with the West St Leonards Community Team and Hastings Urban Design Group.

A spokesperson for the development consortium recently confirmed to HOT that “…we will be undertaking a full public consultation exercise during the coming months and that once this is completed and the feedback fully considered we will be looking to submit a formal planning application for the site.”

As previously reported in HOT, scepticism has been caused by the council’s reluctance to properly inform the local community of what is being planned, and their intention to let a 250-year lease to the developers. It is understood however that plans call for a high-rise, high-density housing development with some 150 units plus leisure and other facilities.

A 250-year lease with the developer was completed last June, the council has told HOT.

“Most of you will be aware of our campaigning previously when this development was first announced by HBC, and their award of a contract to Generator Group to progress towards a development plan,” Sobs say. In the midst of Covid, the group organised well supported petitions opposing the development.

Sobs says it intends to object to the plans as the general consensus has always been that this site should have light development only, and that it should be predominantly a leisure-focused development with a small amount of housing.

The original condition for donation of the site to the borough was for the location to be developed for leisure and tourism, they say. This could still be achieved providing connectivity to the beach and a well-designed community playground.

The meeting has a two-fold purpose. As well as ensuring that local residents are aware of what is being planned, and showcasing alternative designs for the site, it is also intended to discover what the community wants.

“The organisers really hope residents and business owners will come in, view the various designs, and then record their own thoughts and desires!” said Bryan Fisher, a Sobs member.

This article was amended by Nick Terdre on 13 January 2025.

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