Purpose

The site was marketed on the open market in
2025 and two offers were received. Both offers were conditional on
a widening of the permitted use stated in the long lease.
The lease has a restrictive ‘Permitted Use’,
restricting use of the property to Use Class B1 B1(a) (b) (c) (a =
office) (b = R&D) & (C=industrial processes compatible with
a residential area). These uses are compatible with the
‘employment use’ allocation for Site 6 in the current
Local Plan.

Decision

Eastbourne Borough Council, as Planning
Authority, is currently preparing a new Local Plan. The allocation
of Site 6 is to be consulted upon. The decision has been made to
withdraw Site 6 from the market and to not proceed with either
offer while the Councils jointly consider next steps.

Alternative options considered

The decision could have been made to enter
into a conditional sale contract with either of the parties that
offered, however this would have been conditional on the permitted
use in the lease being widened. This is not currently
viable.