Observer column 12 February 2026

Cllr Mark Etherington, lead councillor for strategic planning and climate adaptation

We are at an important moment for Hastings, just before local government reorganisation – we need to agree on our Local Plan, which will guide the development and growth of the town until 2041. 

We need a Local Plan so we, the council and our planning department, have control over what development happens, and where. The government has set targets for the number of new homes each area needs to build over the coming years.  

The government targets are around 700 homes a year - and almost 12,500 homes over the 18-year life of the Local Plan. Reaching these figures will be challenging, but we are required to ‘plan positively’ by the government, which means we must be able to explain how we have assessed potential sites, and give solid planning reasons why we are unable to meet those targets, where appropriate. Putting this draft plan together has meant having some difficult conversations, and some tough decisions will have to be made if we are to satisfy the government’s requirements. 

Alongside these government targets, we know that Hastings needs houses. We want all our residents to have somewhere safe and secure to call home; but we also need to balance this need with protecting our open spaces and natural environment in a climate and nature crisis. 

We need your feedback to help us make these decisions. There are potential sites for development listed in the draft Local Plan. We want to know if these are the right sites, or if there are others we should be considering.  

The responses to the consultation will go to the Planning Inspector as part of the Local Plan process, so it’s important that there we have solid and evidenced  arguments, both positive and negative – telling us you don’t want development on a particular site needs to be accompanied by valid planning points. For example, if you are worried about flooding but think a site could be developed in a particular way to reduce the risk, please let us know.  We also want your positive feedback, where you think we are proposing development in the right areas – again, this needs to be accompanied with planning reasons to support your argument, together with anything else you’d like to see: perhaps local amenities, play-space or cycle paths. 

The documents you need will be online soon, alongside a virtual exhibition which talks you through some of the proposals and policies we want your feedback on. We are also planning some face-to-face events where you will be able to talk to planning officers and find out more.  

We really want to make this a plan for the whole town with everyone’s feedback taken on board, so please take the time to have a look and send your comments.  

It’s your town, and your future. 

Please keep checking the website and our social media for details of when the consultation opens and our face-to-face sessions where you can find out more.