Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Acquisitions, Transformation and Regeneration regarding the development of a Council owned property in Beeching Road, ‘West Trading Estate’, Bexhill.

35 Beeching Road was located just north of Bexhill Police Station, opposite Wainwright Road Car Park and adjacent to the recently demolished former Sharwood’s factory site, as detailed at Appendix A to the report.  The site was currently leased to Skinners Sheds on a non-secure lease which was scheduled to expire on 4 March 2023 and the tenant had confirmed that they would not be renewing the lease.

The existing building consisted of 1,424sqm and was arranged over two floors and covered just under one third of the overall site.  Appendix B to the report detailed a set of photos of the mid-1970s building.

In January 2021, Cabinet approved the letting of part of 1-7 Wainwright Road which adjourned the site.  The remaining unlet part of that site would be incorporated within this development’s proposal.

It was proposed to undertake a thorough feasibility study at a cost of approximately £220,000 to include detailed design, surveys and to seek planning approval in advance of the expiry of the existing lease.  This would ensure minimum loss of income during the development phase.  The next step would be to appoint the relevant professionals to carry out this work and the results would be reported at a future meeting of Cabinet for consideration.

Cabinet approved the recommendation and agreed that investing and improving the facility on this site would complement the proposals already in development or underway across the Beeching Road ‘West Trading Estate’. 

RESOLVED:  That:

1)    a budget of £220,000 be agreed to progress feasibility and detailed designs for the future of 35 Beeching Road and remainder of the 1-7 Wainwright Road site; and

2)    the Head of Acquisitions, Transformation and Regeneration be granted delegated authority to procure the services required, and enter into contracts as necessary, for the completion of detailed designs and planning application.