The Hastings Borough Council Planning Committee met on 13 August 2025, where they discussed planning applications and appeals. A decision on a planning application for land at Church Street was deferred, pending further information. Councillors approved tree pruning at land south of Holmhurst St Mary.

Land at Church Street

A decision on application HS/DS/24/00612, concerning land at Church Street, Hastings, was deferred because more information was required before planning officers could make a recommendation. The application seeks a variation of conditions relating to approved plans and refuse storage details of a previous permission, HS/FA/21/00396, to develop the site to provide five dwellings. The proposed amendments include:

• Removal of a shared garage and enlargement of open porches at Plots 2 and 3.
• Repositioning of dwellings within plots 3, 4 & 5.
• Changes to positioning of parking spaces for plots 2, 3, 4 & 5.
• Creation of patios & pathways to plots 1 & 4.
• Creation of a patio at plot 5.
• Relocation of bin storage areas for all plots and reduction in size of bin collection point to allow for additional planting.

The Planning Services Manager, Eleanor Evans, informed the committee that further investigation was needed before officers could provide a recommendation.

The public consultation on the application yielded three letters and one petition of objection.

Land at and South of Holmhurst St Mary

The committee unanimously approved application HS/TP/25/00289 for tree pruning at land at and south of Holmhurst St Mary, (Rear of 6 Westdean Close), The Ridge, St Leonards-on-sea. The application requested permission to:

• Prune overhanging branches by 1 metre on 2x Oak (T1 and T3).
• Prune overhanging branches by 1 metre on 1x Holly (T2).

Louise Brooks, Planning Officer, told the committee that tree applications would not normally be presented to the Planning Committee, but as the applicant is a council officer in a politically restricted post it cannot be determined under delegated authority according to the council's scheme of delegation.

The council's tree officer considered the work justified and unlikely to harm the long-term health of the trees. The Ecology Officer confirmed that the extremities of the branches do not host any protected species.

The consent was granted subject to conditions, including that the works be undertaken within two years and completed in accordance with BS 3998:2010.¹

Planning Appeals and Delegated Decisions

The committee noted a report on planning appeals and delegated decisions.