The Local Plan, site HS7
HS7: Former Post Office and University of Brighton building
- For
- Mixed Use
- Minimum Indicative Capacity (net additional dwellings)
- 41
- Site area
- 0.1 hectares
- SHELAA reference
- HL138
What the plan says about it
The Former Post Office and University of Brighton building is a town centre brownfield site. The site is suitable for mixed use development, with retail uses at the ground floor to provide an active frontage to the development. The site will be expected to support a varied housing mix and to include affordable housing.
New development will have to take account of the amenity of adjoining residents and businesses due to the town centre location. The development should preserve and enhance the Hastings Town Centre conservation area and take consideration of views to and from Hastings Castle.
The rest of the plan's explanation (1 more paragraph)
Proposals should support ensuring that the public realm in Priory Square is enhanced and provide appropriate improvements to open space and street furniture.
What a planning application here would have to do
- Provide affordable housing in line with Policy SP2.
- Enhance public realm within Priory Square, including policy compliant ‘greening’ to the site in a form appropriate to the urban setting, seating and improvements to open space to encourage active and positive daytime use and support the promotion of Priory Street as a secondary route to the Town Centre and Bohemia.
- Provide for active uses at ground floor level which should include retail, leisure or other town centre complementary uses which also preserve the frontage of the former post office building.
- Avoid unacceptable harm to the significance of the Hastings Town Centre conservation area and long-range views of and from Hastings Castle.
- Take appropriate measures to mitigate the impact of noise on residential dwellings due to location within the active nighttime economy setting.
- Enhance Priory Square itself following the principles of Secured by Design to create a safe and welcoming space for all users.
- Include easements for works and infrastructure access to surrounding premises.
- Provide a connection to the sewerage system at the nearest point of adequate capacity, as advised by Southern Water and ensure future access to the existing sewerage and water supply infrastructure for maintenance and upsizing purposes.
What people said in the spring
In the spring 2026 consultation on the draft plan (called Regulation 18), 7 comments were made on this site: 2 objections, 1 in support and 4 other comments.
The issues people raised, as the council's report sums them up:
- Refurbishment of the existing buildings
- Wider vision for Priory Street
- Car parking and cycling
- Archaeology
- Active Design
What the council did in response: No change to policy.
How to comment
The council hasn't opened the six weeks for comments yet, as far as we can see. When it does, the dates and how to respond will be on our Local Plan page and on the council's own ↗.
Other council papers that mention it
- Appendix 3-2026 Consultation Report Final for Cabinet 26082026 Redacted ↗
Cabinet, Mon 7 Sep 2026
“HS7: Former Post office and 1. Refurbishment of the existing buildings, No change to policy.”
- Draft Policies Map (Paper) Back Page 2026 01 ↗
Cabinet, Mon 26 Jan 2026
“OS4 OS2 OS1 OS3 OS5 OS6 HS7 HSS15 [phone number removed] [phone number removed] 200058200058 ± Regeneration Area Hastings Central R1 and Hastings Town Centre SP4 R1 E4 E5 SC8…”