The Hastings Council Planning Committee met on 17 September 2025, and decided to grant listed building consent for temporary retention of a scaffold structure at West Hill Lift and agreed that prior approval was not required for the demolition of Bexhill East Sports Pavilion. The committee also noted a report on planning appeals and delegated decisions.

West Hill Lift

The committee voted to grant listed building consent for the temporary (5 year) retention of a scaffold structure which provides additional support to the existing temporary and other roof support structure to Upper Station, Old Motor Room at West Hill Lift, George Street, after consideration of the West Hill Lift, George Street report. The application, HS/LB/25/00251, also covered retention of consolidation works to steel ceiling beam and replacement of all bearing plates.

The Planning Services Manager told the committee that the application was for a renewal of consent for existing structures only, with the only works proposed being the replacement of the bearing plates. No external or public-facing works are proposed.

The council's Conservation Officer initially objected to the proposal to retain the supportive structure indefinitely, but removed their objection after the applicant agreed to a description change and a condition limiting the consent to 5 years. The applicant also submitted an updated inspection report from a Civil and Structural Engineer.

The Conservation Officer placed three conditions on the consent:

1. Restricting the consent to a period of 5 years.
2. Requiring the implementation of the recommendations within the June 2025 structural engineer's report within two months of the date of the consent.
3. Requiring an inspection by a certificated scaffold inspector on a six-monthly basis, with the requirement to consult a structural engineer should any unexpected movement or debris on the swept floor.

The committee agreed that the retention of the temporary support and the replacement of the bearing plates would cause no harm to the heritage asset as a temporary solution.

Bexhill East Sports Pavilion

The committee agreed that prior approval was not required for the demolition of a single storey detached prefabricated timber panel sports pavilion / changing rooms at Bexhill East Sports Pavilion (Car Park), Bulverhythe Playing Fields, Bexhill Road, St Leonards-on-sea, application HS/DM/25/00318, after consideration of the Bexhill East Sports Pavillion Car Park report.

The Planning Services Manager told the committee that the application sought confirmation of whether prior approval is required for these demolition works, and if so, whether that is granted or refused.

The application identified that the building has been flooded a number of times and in winter is subject to raised ground water levels. As a result, the building is suffering from timber rot and decay. The facility was deemed unfit approximately 4 years ago, with the facilities adequately provided by the Western Pavilion in Freshfields. The building is now a vacant and redundant building.

The Environmental Health Team raised no objection, subject to conditions relating to restricting hours of demolition and deliveries, and possible contamination. The Ecology Officer also raised no objection.

The committee agreed that the application would comply with all of the requirements set out within Schedule 2, Part 11, Class B of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015¹.

Planning Appeals and Delegated Decisions

The committee noted the Appeal Report, which informed the Planning Committee of any planning appeals that have been lodged, of any decisions received from the Planning Inspectorate² and the number of delegated decisions made between 28/07/2025 and 28/08/2025.

The report noted that an appeal against the refusal of permission for proposed residential development at Land South of 15- 20 Gresley Road (Rear of Tyrone Wildman House), Lancaster Road, St Leonards-on sea HS/FA/24/00191 had been dismissed.

During the specified period, there were 42 delegated decisions in total, of which 32 were granted, 2 raised no objection, 6 were refused, and 2 were withdrawn by the applicant.