Contractor appointed for new Hastings business centre

Hastings Borough Council has now appointed Westridge Construction Ltd as the official contractor for the new business centre to be built on Churchfields Industrial Estate.

Westridge Construction Ltd have worked on many successful developments locally, including the St Leonard's Medical Centre, a new industrial unit on Castleham Estate and new facilities at the Stade.

The business centre will be located in Sidney Little Road, close to the Hastings to Bexhill link road and will include 29 units. The plan is for the building to be ready for occupation in the first quarter of 2022.

The council are also working with project management and sustainability experts Allen Construction Consultancy, who have overseen the whole process so far, to ensure that the design and eco requirements will be delivered efficiently and cost-effectively.

Cllr Peter Chowney, lead councillor for financial management and estates said,

"This is an exciting step forward in an important development for the town, which will provide a home for new and start-up businesses to develop and grow. It is great to be able to look towards an exciting future for local enterprise after the difficulties of the last year.

"The building will be constructed to a very high sustainability standard and will include many other environmentally friendly features such as electric vehicle charging points and solar PVs, which will not only promote 'greener' working but will also keep tenant costs down to allow small businesses to flourish.

"We know our local businesses have been incredibly hard hit by the last year of COVID restrictions, and we hope that this development shows the council's ongoing dedication to help small businesses grow, not just in the short term but in the long-term too.

"The centre will provide opportunities in one of the most deprived parts of the Borough and will include a business skills education centre to help local people set up their own business."

The Let's Do Business Group are available to provide support to people who might be thinking about starting a businesses that could locate into the centre when it opens.

Graham Marley, Let's Do Business Group Chief Executive said,

"We are delighted that the centre development is now moving forward, and it will provide much needed space for new businesses in the town. Lets Do Business Group provide monthly workshops to help people plan their new business and can also provide finance through the Start Up Loan Scheme".

The council has developed the project with funding from the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (Local Growth Fund); the Connecting Hastings and Rother Together (CHART) Programme (European Regional Development Fund) and the council's own Capital Programme.

To register an interest in occupying one of the units please contact the council's Estates team at estates@hastings.gov.uk.

You can also view the proposed floor plans and 3D views on our website.