Welcome to our exhibition
Welcome to Hastings Borough Council Draft Local Plan Preferred Options (Regulation 18) exhibition. We are preparing a new Local Plan for Hastings, and this is your opportunity to share your views and help shape the future of the borough. The consultation will close at 11:59pm on 7 April 2026.
Consultation documents
In addition to the Local Plan, there are two other documents that you can comment on: the interim Sustainability Appraisal (SA) and the interim Infrastructure Delivery Plan. To help guide you through the consultation process, we have provided some ‘frequently asked questions’ as well as a video and some guidance. You can access all the information and respond to the Draft Local Plan consultation at www.hastings.gov.uk/LocalPlan.
What is the Local Plan?
Once adopted, the Local Plan will guide future development in Hastings over the plan period until 2041. It will be used to determine planning applications, support infrastructure planning and guide investment.
Why do we need a Local Plan?
Having an up-to-date Local Plan in place allows us to plan and manage the growth and necessary infrastructure the town needs over the plan period. Without an up-to-date plan, we lose control of where development happens, and we can’t plan for infrastructure effectively, like health services and education. We will also be unable to insist on higher environmental and design standards for new development.
What is in the Draft Local Plan?
The Draft Plan contains different types of policies, including proposed areas for development; and areas that will need to be protected from development. Other policies seek to shape how development should be designed and delivered. Each policy begins with text that sets out why it is needed and what it aims to achieve. This is followed by the policy itself. You can comment on the text, the policies, or any other part of the Plan.
