Update on the fire at the Former Convent

Update - Saturday 11 July 2026 at 8.35am

We received the report from the specialist contractor overnight which shows that asbestos containing material was present within all samples taken from within the cordon area. No further debris was found out of the cordon area.

Work to clean the area immediately adjacent to the site has started this morning, and residents are asked to follow the advice in the post below - do not go onto the site, avoid roads in the immediate area, do not clean cars or any ash from your property.

Our contractors will be door knocking and talking to potentially affected residents throughout the day.

Our initial focus is clearing debris from Magdalen Road.

Update Friday 10 July 2026 at 10.10pm

We are aware of the concerns many residents have about ash following the fire at the Former Convent site.

Earlier today, we instructed a specialist company to carry out urgent air quality testing. The air quality report has confirmed that there is no asbestos present in the air. Testing of the settled ash within the immediate area of the fire site is continuing, and we are awaiting the results later this evening.

As a precaution and to help prevent the ash from spreading, a specialist company, Amstech, will begin cleaning the area immediately adjacent to the site tomorrow morning.

Road closures are in place to enable this to happen. These include Magdalen Road from Edward Road to St Johns Road, and St Johns Road and Edward Road to the junction at Church Road.

The company has specialist machines which will delicately remove debris from cars and the roads within this area. Please leave your vehicle where it is.

If you live in the roads that are closed and have ash around your property, please leave this while testing is ongoing and we will advise further once this has been completed.

Large-scale fires involving building materials containing asbestos (such as insulating board or corrugated asbestos cement roofing) are relatively common in the UK.

UK Health and Security Agency experts emphasise that the risk to health from a single, short-term exposure during a fire incident is considered to be very low.

The fire service will be continuing to carry out regular inspections of the site.

Further details will be shared as the situation progresses.

Update Friday 10 July 2026 at 8.40pm

Joint statement from Cllr Glenn Haffenden and Helena Dollimore MP following the fire at the Former Convent, Magdalen Road.

Following the fire last night at the convent site, a meeting was convened at the site this afternoon by Helena Dollimore MP with Hastings Borough Council's Leader Cllr Glenn Haffenden and CEO Rob Cottrill, representatives from East Sussex Fire and Rescue and Sussex Police, as well as a representative of the owner of the site to urgently discuss this matter.

The representative of the site owner present has agreed to:

1. Urgently place additional and extensive security measures in place to secure the site, including a three metre high wall around the perimeter

2. Immediate extra round the clock protection on site.

The owners will be closely monitored by Hastings Borough Council enforcement to ensure this and to guarantee public safety.

Many residents have asked for advice about what to do if they encounter dust or ash from the site at their homes. For now, the advice is to leave it alone, while urgent testing of the dust by the council takes place and further public health advice about clean up will then be issued as needed. The risk is believed to be low, but the testing is being done as a precaution.

Do not enter this site under any circumstances as you may face prosecution and anybody entering the site will be at significant risk because the structure is unstable.

Helena Dollimore, MP for Hastings, Rye and the villages

Cllr Glenn Haffenden, Leader of Hastings Borough Council

Hastings Borough Council's statement on the fire at the Former Convent

Hastings Borough Council was saddened to learn of the fire at the Former Convent site in Magdalen Road on Thursday evening and has been working with East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and other partner agencies in response to the incident.

The council would like to thank the emergency services for their swift response in dealing with the fire.

 The Former Convent site is privately owned and is not owned or managed by Hastings Borough Council. Responsibility for securing the site and maintaining the buildings rests with the owners. The council will carry on pursuing all action available to us to ensure the owner fulfils their responsibilities.

The council had already formally notified those responsible for the site of its longstanding concerns. These concerns arose from the repeated incidents of unauthorised access and the risks posed to both public safety and this important heritage asset.

The council has been working closely with Sussex Police and East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, and concerns about site security, unauthorised access and fire risk have been repeatedly raised with those responsible for the site.

The council will review the position urgently with the emergency services, Historic England and other relevant partners, and will carry on pursuing all action available to us to address site security, public safety and the protection of the listed buildings. 

Residents are reminded that the site remains extremely dangerous and should not be entered under any circumstances. People should continue to follow any advice issued by the emergency services.