Vacant university campus attracts litter and is an 'eyesore'

A former university campus building that has been empty for years is plagued by littering and vandalism. The closure of the University of Brighton’s Hastings campus was announced in 2016 after it became “financially unsustainable”. The site was sold to Hastings Borough Council for £9.

4 million in 2019 and now lies empty. At the time, students campaigned fiercely against the closure and Amber Rudd, then MP of Hastings, criticised the decision. The Hastings campus opened in 2003 and received £12 million of public investment.

The Priory Square building was opened in 2013 and is made up of the original 1930s Post Office building fronting Cambridge Road and an extension overlooking Priory Square. It has a 160-seat auditorium, teaching facilities, laboratory space, terraces and two 13-person lifts. The Priory Square building was opened in 2013 and is made up of the original 1930s Post Office building fronting Cambridge Road, and an extension overlooking Priory Square (Image: Duncan Hill) The building was sold by the council to Stonegate Homes in December 2023 with planning permission for change of use to 41 homes as well as a commercial space on the site.

The property went to auction on September 25 but did not fetch the desired price so was not sold. Stonegate is now looking to convert the building into apartments. Duncan Hill, a voluntary litter picker from St Leonards who goes by the name of Mr Litter, chronicles his activities on YouTube and social media.

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