The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, has officially visited Havelock Place – a 24,000 sq ft commercial property development under construction in Hastings’ Priory Quarter.

He also met business leaders from across Sussex to discuss the economic redevelopment taking place in the area and how government funding can help support this.

At Havelock Place, the Chancellor welcomed the office development’s first tenant – Medica, a leading provider of radiology reporting services. He handed the Medica team, which has recently expanded to take on 12 new staff, the keys to its new offices on the fifth floor.

The Chancellor then met the main partners behind the Havelock Place project, including economic development company Sea Change Sussex, building firm Vinci Construction UK, the South East Local Enterprise Partnership and East Sussex County Council. He discussed the success of the scheme and plans for other projects in East Sussex supported by the Government’s National Infrastructure Plan.

Chancellor with Amber Rudd MP & John Shaw - looking at regeneration plans
Amber Rudd MP with the Chancellor & Sea Change Sussex CEO John Shaw – looking at regeneration plans

Following this, the Chancellor attended a roundtable session where he met businesses based in and around Hastings to discuss the local economy and government support for those looking to expand. These included manufacturers Marshall Tufflex and General Dynamics and insurance company Hastings Direct.

George Osborne said: “Today, I’ve seen first-hand the regeneration taking place in Hastings and the positive effect it’s having on the local economy. Government support, through such schemes as the Growing Places Fund, has boosted projects like Havelock Place, providing much needed finance to get important developments going.

The government’s long term economic plan is to back business and support local economies, which are vital for providing jobs and security for hard-working people. What I’ve seen today shows this plan is working and highlights East Sussex as a great coastal business location.”

Havelock Place has been developed over the past 18 months by economic development company Sea Change Sussex.

John Shaw, CEO of Sea Change Sussex, commented: “The Chancellor’s visit gave us a chance to showcase Havelock Place and hand over the keys to Medica as our first tenant.  Medica is now fitting out its top floor office suite ready for occupancy by its expanded radiology business in October. We were also able to brief the Chancellor on progress across the range of business development projects being supported by the Government in East Sussex.”

Havelock Place is a 24,192 sq ft scheme within which offices are now available to let as ground floor units of 1,353 and 1,483 sq ft (also available for retail use) and upper floors of approximately 4,000 sq ft.

The property can accommodate up to 350 employees. It offers:

  • full air-conditioning and full access raised floors
  • suspended ceilings with recessed lighting
  • showers on three floors
  • two 8-person lifts
  • a high quality entrance hall
  • full disabled access

It is the latest office development in the Priory Quarter town centre business district. It stands two minutes’ walk from two large car parks, the town’s main rail station, bus terminus and taxi rank.

It also stands next to two other recently developed properties:

  • Lacuna Place is now owned by the University of Brighton as part of its Hastings campus – with two additional teaching buildings also within Priory Quarter
  • One Priory Square was purchased in 2011 by Saga for its new insurance operation, which has now become Hastings’ largest town centre employer

For more information on Havelock Place and Priory Quarter, visit www.prioryquarter.co.uk

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Contact Tariq Khwaja from TK Associates on tariq.khwaja@tk-associates.com or 01932 224 212.