Things you need to know about the new draft Local Plan

The Local Plan sets out the council's policies for deciding planning applications, including where new homes could be built, how we aim to protect important parts of our natural, built and historic environment, and how we attract new investment to the area. The creation of a new Hastings Local Plan gives us the opportunity to:

• Reflect the latest government policies and housing targets
• Deliver on council priorities such as climate action, regeneration, and affordable housing
• Make sure new development supports local services, green spaces, and quality of life for residents

The updated plan will provide a clear strategy for managing growth, while protecting the things that make Hastings unique. It will also set out the standards developers must meet to minimise the environmental impact of new buildings and infrastructure.

You may have heard that the government is considering changes to how local councils are structured, including a move to replace two-tier systems like Hastings Borough Council and East Sussex County Council with a single unitary authority. This is part of a wider aim to create simpler, more sustainable local government arrangements.

We are currently working with East Sussex County Council and the other districts and boroughs on this and are waiting to hear back from the government on our proposals.

In the meantime, council services must continue to operate as normal, and that includes our responsibilities around planning. Local authorities are legally required to prepare and maintain an up-to-date Local Plan.

Although reorganisation may happen in the future, any work completed on the Local Plan now will not be wasted as it can be used to inform and shape a new Local Plan under the reorganised council structure. This ensures that local priorities and community input are reflected from the outset.

Delaying the Local Plan could mean the council starts losing control of where and how much development can take place. We will continue to keep residents updated on both the Local Plan and any news regarding Local Government Reorganisation. You can find out more about Local Government Reorganisation on our What is Local Government Reorganisation? page.

The Local Plan sets out the vision for the future of our borough until 2041 and plans for development. It also sets the basis for the council's plans and projects until then. It will provide a 'brief' for the development industry setting out the amount, location and type of development required, and the requirements that developments will be expected to meet.

It will be used mainly by investors, developers, infrastructure providers and the council's planning officers. But its importance to our town goes wider, because the plan should address the needs of businesses, residents and visitors

We will be asking for your views again on the new Draft Local Plan through a consultation in February 2026.

As the Local Planning Authority, Hastings Borough Council has a legal duty to have an up-to-date Local Plan in place. The Plan needs to reflect current national policies and respond to changes in the local economy, environment, and community needs.

In 2021, we consulted on a new draft Local Plan, however since this there have been lots of changes, including an increase in the government’s housing target for Hastings. This means we now need to plan for more homes.

Due to the changes that have occurred in the borough since then, the council has decided to run another consultation on an updated draft Local Plan. As a result, we need to plan for more housing and ensure the Local Plan reflects the latest requirements and the views of the whole community. The comments you shared with us last time have been listened to, and many of these suggestions have helped us to shape the new version of the plan.

All local authorities in England have a housing need target. In some areas there will be an expectation of going above this target and helping the housing need of neighbouring authorities.

The plan won’t show detailed designs, but it will set the rules for what kind of development can happen, where it can go, and what it should achieve. The plan is a legal document which sets out policies to help the council decide on planning applications and aims to guide and shape good development across Hastings.

The Local Plan will set out policies which:

• identify areas suitable for development
• set the standards developers must meet
• address climate change and include sustainable transport opportunities
• promote the local economy
• provide new and affordable homes
• protect the built, historic and natural environment

The plan provides the framework, and others help bring it to life. As the delivery of development lies largely with other organisations, including the development industry and infrastructure providers.

No, the plan is not all about housing, although we know there is a need for more affordable homes in Hastings with the widening gap between wages and housing costs. This is not the only issue the Local Plan needs to deal with.

The plan needs to create a balance while also encouraging good quality development that meets local needs.

Here's just some of the issues the policies will address:

• Delivery of housing and sustainably designed homes
• Maximising the delivery of affordable housing
• Addressing climate change and low carbon agenda
• Maintaining a thriving economy - addressing skills, pay and seasonal jobs
• Sustainable transport, creating opportunities for more walking and cycling
• Healthy places, promoting more active lifestyles
• Protecting and enhancing the environment

We are required to submit the Local Plan and supporting evidence documents to the Government to be examined by an independent Planning Inspector.

The Planning Inspector will assess the 'Submission Local Plan'. Their job is to check whether it meets national planning policy objectives and requirements. If it does, only then can it be adopted by the council.

If the plan is found ‘sound’ and can be adopted, this will need to be approved by Full Council because all members of the council have a stake in it.

All planning policies are backed by evidence. The Local Plan can be ambitious, but it also must be realistic. Our evidence informs, and in some cases limits the policies that the council can follow.

Here are some examples of the types of studies involved:

• Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment
• Housing & Economic Development Needs Assessment
• Strategic Flood Risk Assessment
• Renewable Energy & Low Carbon study
• Traffic modelling
• Gypsy & Travellers’ Needs Assessment
• Playing Pitch Strategy
• Infrastructure needs
• Ecological studies and assessments

National and international law and policies also affects and shapes the plan policies, for example, nationally 'listed' buildings or Sites of Special Scientific Interest. We also need to coordinate with Plans in the neighbouring areas of Rother District Council, East Sussex County Council and the wider area.

Policies must also be supported and justified by evidence testing, looking at whether they are practical and sustainable and viable.

We adopted a Planning Strategy in 2014 and in 2015 The Development Management Plan followed. These included planning policies and identified developments sites, some of these have already been built or are currently under construction. We also created a draft Area Action Plan for Bohemia and the Town Centre in 2018.

We have been working to replace all of these documents and create a new single Local Plan document.

Our The Local Development Scheme in Hastings page contains summary information about our timetable and the full timetable document known as the Local Development Scheme (LDS) can be found there.

The Local Plan is a planning policy document that sets out what can be built in Hastings, where development should happen, and how land should be used. It guides decisions on planning applications and shapes the future growth of the town.

Whereas the Pride in Place (Plan for Neighbourhoods) is an investment programme not a planning document. Hastings has been selected by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to receive up to £20m of funding to support regeneration in the town. The funding will support the delivery of investment and improvement in community services, such as regeneration, education, health and employment.

You can find out more about this funding on our Pride in Place (Plan for Neighbourhoods) page.

There are also Neighbourhood Plans or Neighbourhood Development Plans which can be prepared by the community that, once adopted, also form part of the Statutory Development Plan alongside the Local Plan for Hastings. They can range in detail and the area that they cover, depending on the issues and development proposed in a particular area. More information can be found on our website about Neighbourhood Planning in Hastings