New homes This uses the prior-approval route: national rules allow the work, and the council can check only set things, such as its size or its effect on neighbours.
What is proposed
In the council’s words, from its weekly list:
Application to determine if prior approval is required for a proposed change of use from offices (Use Class E) to flats (Use Class C3) under Schedule 2, Part 3, Class MA of the Town and Country Planning General Permitted Development Order 2015 (as amended). (amended description).
The application describes a change from Class E (commercial, business and service) to Class C3 (homes). That is how the application describes it, not a finding of the lawful use.
Commenting on this application
Registered No decision on our record yet.
The council’s page on commenting ↗ says most prior-approval applications aren’t put out for public comment. The council’s file shows whether this one is.
Comments are public: the council publishes them on the application’s file with the commenter’s name, and removes personal details such as addresses, phone numbers and email addresses. A comment should be about the proposal: the council can take only planning matters into account.
What the council can take into account
A planning decision must follow the council’s development plan unless “material planning considerations” point another way. Government guidance describes these as matters relevant to the planning decision. It says the courts have generally taken the view that planning is about the use of land in the public interest, so purely private interests, such as the effect on a neighbouring property’s value or the loss of a private right to light, could not be material considerations. Public views can be taken into account where they relate to planning matters; support or opposition is not in itself a reason to grant or refuse.
The plans and documents are on the council’s file. When it is decided, the decision notice there will set out any conditions or the reasons for a refusal.
Measured along the street’s line against the council’s boundaries. Whether a particular building is inside depends on where the boundary runs: each area’s page on the council’s site has its map. All 18 conservation areas
The council’s Article 4 direction on houses in multiple occupation covers the whole town (in force since 2 July 2012): turning a house into a shared house for three to six people needs planning permission. The council’s page ↗
Tree preservation orders within about 40 m of Tower Road West’s line, from the council’s map data:
TPO 12: made 25 May 1950, confirmed 21 August 1950; 5 trees, 26 groups of trees, 3 woodlands in the order. The order (PDF) ↗
Indicative only — the council’s order is what counts. The council says of its tree order map data: “This dataset is under review and subject to change. Always refer to the Original Tree Preservation Order and associated plan for confirmation.” The council’s tree preservation orders page ↗
Flood zones, the coast and protected nature on this street
We place an application by the street in its address, so these say where Tower Road West runs, not where the site’s boundary is. The application’s own documents on the council’s file show the site.
Flood zones
None of Tower Road West’s line is in Flood Zone 2 or 3 on the Environment Agency’s flood map for planning. In the Agency’s words: “This means a site in flood zone 1 could still flood now or in the future.”
No Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Area of Conservation, Local Nature Reserve, ancient woodland or country park is within about 100 m of Tower Road West’s line, and it is outside the High Weald National Landscape. Protected nature in Hastings
The council’s file counts no comments from the public (as it stood on Tue 13 Oct 2026). The count can change until the application is decided; we check it at most once a week.
Who the council consulted
The bodies and officers the file lists as consulted, with the day each was asked.
Responses filed as consultee comments, named as the file names them, with the day each was published. What they say is in each document on the council’s file.
WASTE TEAM COMMENT, Fri 2 Oct 2026
HIGHWAYS, Fri 2 Oct 2026
CONSERVATION OFFICER COMMENTS (CONS OFFICER), Tue 6 Oct 2026
Is a comment public?
The council’s page on commenting says: “All comments will be made available to view online and will be treated in accordance with our privacy policy. Comments will be redacted where they contain personal information or are inappropriate in their content.” It also says: “Please note that we do not accept anonymous comments.” Commenting on an application, on the council’s site ↗ (read 13 October 2026).
We count the comments on the council’s file. We never copy a commenter’s name, address or words, and we don’t list who objected: that is on the file.
Similar applications nearby
Other applications of the same kind (new homes) on Tower Road West or in Gensing ward, decided ones first, since our record starts on 21 April 2026. A refusal is marked; its reasons are in the decision notice on the council’s file. Each application is decided on its own facts.
Conversion of existing dwelling house into lower ground floor 3 bed 5 person flat (C3) and the ground, first and second floor to a 10 room Sui generis HMO.
HS/FA/26/00306, validated Wed 22 Jul 2026, decided in the week of Mon 14 Sep 2026
Partial conversion of existing shop storage areas (class E) at ground and lower ground floor level into two bedroom flat together with rear/side single storey extensions at lower ground floor level, alterations to openings and retaining wall with stepped access to new patio in rear garden.
HS/FA/26/00354, validated Tue 30 Jun 2026, decided in the week of Mon 19 Oct 2026
Subdivision of 2nd and 3rd floor maisonette into 2no. self contained flats. Enlarged dormer window to front roof slope.
HS/FA/26/00487, validated Fri 21 Aug 2026
Registered
If you think work doesn’t match what was approved
The council’s planning enforcement team looks into building work or a use that may not have permission, or may not follow the approved plans or conditions. Its page explains how to report it and which cases it deals with first: planning enforcement on the council’s site ↗
Our planning record starts on 21 April 2026, from the council’s weekly lists of new and decided applications. We list the site, the proposal, the dates, the decision, the comment counts and a permission’s conditions. We never copy a commenter’s or an individual applicant’s details; an applicant is named only when it is an organisation we can match exactly to a council, a registered charity or a company on Companies House. Planning is decided by the council, not by us.