Former High School Site and Drill Halls, Down Road, Bexhill

This brownfield site is part of a larger site that includes a small element of greenfield land. The whole site, including the greenfield part, is allocated in the DaSA for either some 35 houses or some 36 flats and 18 houses. In both cases, 30% of the dwelling units shall be affordable. Any proposals should include: a high quality wet and dry sports and leisure facility of up to 6,500sqm; a complementary commercial development, including up to a 100-bed hotel, plus up to 4 units of restaurant space totalling around 400sqm; car-parking to serve the development, along with associated car/coach parking and drop-off area for the adjacent school; and provision for the retention and enhancement of boundary planting on the northern boundary. If required, the current users of the Drill Hall have been provided for at an alternative location. Development of the site should be through a comprehensive masterplan and should focus on an accessible, sustainable and high-quality leisure hub facility, creating a landmark leisure destination through high-quality buildings and public realm on this highly prominent gateway site into the town. See Policy BEX4 of the DaSA (https://www.rother.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DaSA_Adopted_December_2019_Web.pdf). There is a current outline planning application RR/2019/430/P, for part of this site, including the greenfield element, which has had a grant of planning permission subject to S106, for up to 52 dwellings and mixed-use leisure centre and ancillary car parking. The application site overlaps the allocation site; however, it excludes the MOD Drill Hall. The application site has also been included in the Register. Please see entry RDCBLR0052. December 2024 - no changes.