Moves on ‘Abandoned’ Clifton Court
HUGH SULLIVAN
Clifton Court, a block of 53 flats owned by housing association Orbit, remains vacant around three-and-a-half years after its tenants began to be decanted for prospective redevelopment. A spokesperson for Orbit indicated last week that demolition and rebuilding options for the three linked buildings on the corner of Holmesdale Gardens and Linton Road are currently being discussed in a working partnership with Hastings Borough Council “to ensure that our plans meet their sustainability criteria”.
There is no suggestion from either party that the buildings should or could be patched up to provide shorter term emergency accommodation, nor any communicated sense of urgency to progress intended works. This is despite protests and a brief occupation of the block last July by local campaigners, Housing Rebellion, complaining of its abandonment.
The Orbit spokesperson said that the housing association is “acutely aware of the current demand for affordable housing in Hastings” and is aiming to provide “as many affordable homes on the site as planning and environmental decisions allow… Once options have been agreed, we will consult with stakeholders and the general public, to give them the opportunity to comment on our proposals, and ensure the site meets the needs of the local community and demonstrates the longevity that they are seeking and deserve.”
In a 2021 newsletter, Orbit had told its tenants that it would cost at least £5 million to improve heating, insulation and safety in the existing buildings “to meet modern standards”, and that a better option might be to redevelop the entire block. Either way, all residents were told they would have to move out in order for work to take place.
By July 2023 the block was fully vacated. Taking into account changes in regulatory controls – not least, the enactment of the post-Grenfell Building Safety Act under which building managers may face criminal charges if they fail to demonstrate effective measures to combat safety risks – Orbit seems by then to have reached a settled decision that only full demolition and reconstruction would serve its purpose.
Hastings BC Housing & Community Wellbeing Portfolio Holder Cllr Glenn Haffenden has clearly endorsed this approach. Some months ago he messaged on Nextdoor: “They [Orbit] are demolishing to build more homes, more sustainable homes, cheaper to run homes, more environmentally friendly homes and also homes that meet the current housing requirements.” However, no timeline has been mentioned.
In the meantime, Orbit has apologised to tenants of the neighbouring block The Hermitage, which it also manages, for allowing a build-up of obnoxious waste in the back yard of Clifton Court after refuse collectors’ access was obstructed. This issue “has now been resolved”, its spokesperson said.
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