The Chatsworth Hotel, on Carlisle Parade, Hastings, was at the centre of the proposal, having previously had its use change to allow it to accommodate international students.

The previous change, approved in March 2025, allowed the building to be used by Buckswood School for its international language programme students.

However, according to the new application, the language school ceased operating at the hotel during the summer.

The hotel was used by Buckswood school over the summer (Image: Google)

The property, which has not functioned as a traditional hotel for several years, was previously used to provide emergency accommodation for refugees.

Having initially closed during the Covid-19 pandemic, it was used by the Home Office to house asylum seekers between 2022 and 2024, although this was never officially sanctioned.

Between March and July 2025, Buckswood School then used the property to house students on its ‘Buckswood Lions’ summer school programme, offering English lessons and activities to pupils aged 11 to 18 years old.

During this time, significant investment was made in refurbishing and redecorating the building.

The new plans aim to bring the property back to its original use as a hotel. The hotel would be operated by Wisdom Properties Limited on behalf of Buckswood School.

The application said there are no proposed internal or external alterations.

The hotel closed during the pandemic (Image: Nigel Chadwick)

The plans were approved by Hastings Borough Council on December 17.

Council planning officers wrote: “The change of use would bring a vacant building back into active use, delivering good quality hotel accommodation in a prime seafront location, generating additional employment opportunities, and contributing positively to the tourism economy of Hastings.”

The building photographed in June 2025 (Image: Google)

The approved new hotel would have 52 bed spaces.

The provision of access to the building remains unchanged, with existing pedestrian access via the main entrance on Carlisle Parade being retained.

The new plans can be viewed using the reference HS/FA/25/00633.