Campaigners Occupy Empty Hastings Flats In Protest Over Housing Needs

Hastings housing campaigners ‘occupied’ an empty block of flats for 24 hours in an effort to pressure a housing association to renovate and reuse the property. 

In a demonstration beginning on Sunday (June 23), activists from Housing Rebellion entered Clifton Court in Holmesdale Gardens — a vacant 53-unit apartment building owned by the housing association Orbit. 

Campaigners said their demonstration was intended to highlight both the town’s housing pressures and Orbit’s management of the building, which they said has been empty for more than a year. They argue the building appears to be structurally sound and habitable, so should be brought back into use as social housing as soon as possible. 

For its part, Orbit says refurbishment is not “a realistic option” due to the building’s “technical challenges”.

Several campaigners stayed in the building overnight, with more members of the group holding a demonstration outside of the building for much of the 24 hours they were on site.

Hastings resident Marnie Johnson was among those to take part in the demonstration. She said:

“Why have a building like this empty? Fifty-three families could be housed in this and it is better to refurbish it than to knock it down and start all over again. 

“Environmentally it would be much better to refurbish it than to dig more cement out of the ground and create more carbon.

“The flats that I’ve been in are in really good condition. This has been empty for more than a year, yet I haven’t seen any mould. I’ve been in people’s flats who are in much, much, much worse condition than these. I’d be happy to move into one of these as it stands.”

Arran Duncan was among those to stay in the building overnight. Speaking to the LDRS, he said:

“The plight of the people needing homes in Hastings really does need all the support we can get. 

“I’m lucky enough to have a home, but for all the people — the 1,600 people — waiting for homes in Hastings and the people living in temporary accommodation, this is a resource which shouldn’t sit here with steel barriers on the windows when there is carpeted, decorated flats, with new kitchens, new bathrooms just waiting for people.”

He added:

“Taking social housing out of the cycle is mad at the minute; we need more social housing not less.”

Hastings Independent councillor John Cannan, who also works for the homelessness charity Seaview, was also among those to take part in the demonstration.

He said:

“Orbit are a housing association. The clue is in the name; they should be housing people. We need roofs over people’s heads in Hastings; Orbit need wake their ideas up and get this place refurbished.”

He added:

“The time for talking is over, they need to take action. I’ve been in there, I was in there last night and that place is not too bad at all. It could be refurbished and it really needs to be; we are in desperate need of housing in Hastings.”

But Orbit disputes the campaigners’ description of the building, citing an improvement notice served by Hastings Borough Council prior to its closure. 

An Orbit spokesperson said:

“The decision to decommission Clifton Court was taken with the safety of customers uppermost in our minds. The building was issued with an Improvement Notice by the local authority on safety grounds, an independent report commissioned by us found that the building requires extensive, long-term remedial works to meet new building regulations. The site is therefore not suitable for permanent or temporary housing.

“Former residents have all been relocated to new homes and the site has been made secure. Anyone using forced entry or illegally accessing the site risks putting themselves and others in danger and incurs a cost to Orbit, unfairly reducing the funds we have available to invest in our homes and support our customers.

“Refurbishment is not always the most sustainable option both from a construction perspective nor from the customer’s point of view in terms of energy efficiency and the cost to keep their homes warm. The technical challenges that Clifton Court presents mean that refurbishment is not a realistic option, and remodelling the existing building to achieve safety standards will result in a reduction in the number of flats within the scheme.

“Regeneration has been identified as the most effective and realistic way in which social housing can be provided on this site that will meet customer needs and expectations for the future whilst creating low carbon homes. We have been in discussions with local and national authorities regarding options for redevelopment with the aim to provide as many affordable homes on the site as planning and environmental decisions allow.

“Once options have been agreed, we will of course consult with stakeholders to ensure the site meets the needs of the local community.”