A former prison site in Bexhill-on-Sea has been formally transferred to Homes England to be redeveloped for housing. The former HMP Northeye site was previously earmarked for asylum seeker accommodation.
The Northeye site has been allocated for housing in Rother District Council’s adopted 2019 Local Plan and is also included in the council’s emerging Local Plan, now out for consultation. With the transfer complete, Homes England intends to bring the site forward for housing development in partnership with the council and the local community, potentially paving the way for close to 400 homes.
The transfer has taken place under the government’s Single Land Programme, which brings unused public land into productive use to support housing delivery and community-led regeneration.
Amy Rees, chief executive of Homes England, said: “The transfer of the Northeye site represents not only a significant local milestone but also a clear example of Homes England’s national strategy in action, unlocking public land, working in partnership with places, and helping to deliver the homes and places communities need for the future.”
“This transfer means we can now start work to bring the former Northeye site back into use. By working with the council and the local community, we want to help deliver new homes that meet local needs and support Bexhill’s future.”
Homes England will now work closely with Rother District Council, as well as community groups and local residents, to shape proposals that reflect local priorities and support Bexhill’s long-term targets. In the short term, the agency will undertake essential maintenance and site management.
Homes England says that the transfer directly supports its recently launched Strategic Plan, which aims to accelerate housing delivery and unlock public land for regeneration. The plan outlines how it will help deliver the government’s 1.5 million homes target and significantly increase housing supply across all tenures, as well as deliver the biggest boost to social and affordable housing in a generation.
The agency says it is committed to removing barriers to development and supporting high-quality, mixed-tenure communities, which it suggests will help shape future proposals for the Northeye site.