Refused by the Council, Approved on Appeal: Hastings’ St Anne’s Church Will Be Replaced by Five Homes

• A planning inspector approved five homes on the site of St Anne’s Church, Hastings
• The council had refused the plans in January 2025
• The scheme has three two-bedroom and two three-bedroom houses
• The inspector called the loss of the church regrettable but acceptable

Plans to replace a former church in Hastings with five homes have been approved on appeal, local democracy reporter Huw Oxburgh reported in September 2025.

The applicant, Victory 1066 Ltd, plans three two-bedroom and two three-bedroom two-storey houses, with two off-road parking spaces, on the site of St Anne’s Church on Chambers Road. The council refused the plans in January 2025, saying the bin store would harm the character of the area and extra parking demand would endanger highway safety.

The planning inspector disagreed, finding “no significant impact on the character and appearance of the area” and “sufficient” parking. “I have not identified conflict with the development plan from the proposal,” the inspector wrote. The decision notice was published on 23 September.

On heritage, the inspector said: “Whilst it is regrettable that the proposal would result in the loss of the church which has some historic interest, this loss does not in itself conflict with the development plan.” Historic England had found the building did not “demonstrate the quality of interest in its design and execution” for national significance.

Hastings shows that an unlisted church can be demolished for housing if the plans meet planning rules. For Jamaican churches, formal heritage protection determines what can happen to a building. Congregations that value their buildings should seek listing early, while those planning to redevelop should check heritage status first.