To occupy Havelock Place & Lacuna Place in Priory Quarter business district

The Government’s Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) has taken on Havelock Place and Lacuna Place in the Priory Quarter business district in Hastings town centre.

DWP is to move its employees from its current base in Ashdown House on the outskirts of Hastings, following an extensive review to find a good quality working environment in a town centre location.

The Department will be fitting out the town centre offices with the intention of moving its staff later in 2018.

The Department has taken approx. 25,000 sq ft at Havelock Place, developed by regeneration company Sea Change Sussex. It will occupy the ground to fourth floors of the building, with the fifth floor let to radiology company Medica.

It is also leasing the entire office element of the adjacent building, Lacuna Place, totalling around 32,000 sq ft over five floors. The building is owned by The University of Brighton.

Both high-quality, contemporary office buildings were created as part of the economic development programme to create the Priory Quarter business district and attract jobs to Hastings town centre. Lacuna Place was subsequently bought by the University of Brighton.

The buildings are adjacent to One Priory Square, which was also developed as part of the Priory Quarter regeneration scheme and sold to Saga Insurance.

A Sea Change Sussex spokesperson comments: “We’re thrilled the DWP has chosen to move to Priory Quarter. They’re an important local employer which we wouldn’t want to lose from the area. This move brings hundreds of workers into the business district, which will provide a big economic boost to Hastings town centre.”

Mike Clark, Director of Estates & Facilities Management at The University of Brighton, says: “Securing this deal with DWP is good news for Hastings and ensures continued use of our Lacuna Place building. We’re delighted to have worked together with Sea Change Sussex to make this happen.”

Havelock Place was developed based on the Government’s Growing Places Fund provided by the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) via East Sussex County Council.

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