Hastings building used for asylum seekers could become hotel.
Plans have been submitted to transform a beachfront property back into a hotel.
The Chatsworth Hotel, on Carlisle Parade in Hastings, is at the heart of the project following its recent renovation to accommodate international students.
The prior alteration, granted in March 2025, permitted Buckswood School to use the building for international language students.
However, according to the current application, the language school at the hotel discontinued operations over the summer.
The hotel was used by Buckswood school over the summer (Image: Google)
The building, which has not operated as a regular hotel in several years, was previously utilised to offer emergency shelter for refugees.
After initially closing during the Covid-19 pandemic, it was used by the Home Office to detain asylum seekers between 2022 and 2024, though this was never formally sanctioned.
Buckswood School later used the building to accommodate students enrolled in its ‘Buckswood Lions’ summer school program, which provided English courses and activities to kids aged 11 through 18.
The new designs attempt to restore the facility to its original purpose as a hotel.
The application states there are no proposed internal or external alterations.
The hotel closed during the pandemic (Image: Nigel Chadwick)
The proposal states: “It is anticipated that the proposed development will provide jobs for approximately 20 full-time employees.”
“This is more staff than is currently used as a language school to allow for waiting staff in the on-site restaurant and receptionists.
“No additional external lighting is proposed; there is existing lighting to the front of the building which provides suitable illumination at night time.”
The building photographed in June 2025 (Image: Google)
The proposed new hotel would include 52 bed spaces. The building’s entry remains untouched, with the current pedestrian entrance on Carlisle Parade retained.
The new plans can be accessed with the reference HS/FA/25/00633.
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