Cabinet minutes
In plain English
Decided · A decision has been taken.
The draft Local Plan sets a requirement to plan for approximately 700 net new homes per year, around 12,500 over the plan period, and assesses approximately 140 potential development sites. p7
Officers said that failing to meet housing targets could render the Plan unsound and leave the town vulnerable to speculative development. p9
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- p766. Hastings Draft Local Plan Preferred Options - Regulation 18 consultation The Deputy Chief Executive introduced the report to recommend that the Regulation 18 draft Local Plan Preferred Options document be approved for consultation. Officers explained that the updated Local Plan will become the primary planning document for Hastings up to 2041. The draft Local Plan sets out the vision for the borough, updated strategic and development management policies, and proposed site allocations for housing, employment and regeneration. The Plan is evidence?led, aligns with national planning requirements, and aims to balance housing need, economic growth, and environmental protection. The importance of having an up?to?date Local Plan was highlighted, particularly considering potential local government reorganisation, as this ensures Hastings retains influence over local development and reduces vulnerability to speculative applications. Key changes since the last consultation in 2021 include: New national housing targets, requiring Hastings to plan for approximately 700 net new homes per year (around 12,500 over the plan period). Updates from the 2024 National Planning Policy Framework. Worsening local housing pressures, with rising house prices, reduced rental availability, and increasing temporary accommodation costs. Assessment of approximately 140 potential development sites. The consultation follows the updated Statement of Community Involvement and will include digital engagement, in?person events, and additional guidance notes to help residents navigate the lengthy document. Feedback gathered will inform the next stage of the process (Regulation 19). Councillor Haffenden invited councillors to ask questions. Councillor Barnett said the draft Local Plan had improved but still lacked ambition on affordable housing, green space protection, higher?density development, and water infrastructure. He asked cabinet to commit to changes after consultation.
- p9National guidance requires councils struggling to meet housing need to review non?statutory local designations Councillor Turner raised concerns about hospital service relocations, water infrastructure, and tree damage. Councillor Haffenden agreed to raise these issues with government and Southern Water. Councillor Sinden highlighted the decline of playgrounds and asked about the consequences of not meeting housing targets. Officers said that failing to meet requirements to deliver housing could render the Plan unsound, leaving the town vulnerable to speculative development. Councillor Hilton noted that the draft Local Plan is over 400 pages long and uses a significant amount of technical planning terminology. She asked that the council ensure consultation materials are written in plain English to support an inclusive consultation process. Councillor Haffenden thanked all residents who attended the meeting for their contributions and encouraged them to engage fully with the consultation, providing as much evidence as possible. He also thanked officers for their work on the draft Local Plan. RESOLVED (unanimously): 1. That the Hastings Local Plan Preferred Options Regulation 18 consultation document is published for a six-week consultation period between February 2026 and March 2026. 2. That the Director of Place, or her nominee, has delegated authority in consultation with the Cabinet Portfolio holder for Planning to agree any necessary minor editorial changes to the draft Plan before it is published for consultation purposes. Reasons: 1. It is a regulatory requirement to invite the public and stakeholders to participate in the preparation of the Local Plan for Hastings. 2. To ensure the draft document is as up-to-date and accurate as possible at the time of publication. (The Chair declared the meeting closed at 7.37pm)
Places and organisations it names
- Hastings Borough Council
- Fairlight Road
- Graystone Lane
- Magdalen Road
- Priory Square
- Seaside Road
- Tilekiln Lane