Following a competitive tender process, Sussex-based Gemselect has been selected to develop a housing scheme on the disused power station site in Hastings’ Ore Valley.

Gemselect is based in Battle and has a 20-year track record of developing award-wining homes throughout Kent and Sussex.

The company was chosen amongst seven bidders by the board of the site’s current owner, regeneration company Sea Space. The board decided its scheme represented the best balance of value, commercial strengths and community benefits.

Gemselect’s scheme meets local policy objectives — including a level of affordable housing in excess of policy requirements — and involves extensive use of local workers.

The developer is also offering six plots within the site for the Heart of Hastings community group to create self-build homes in association with Sussex Coast College’s Ore Valley campus, therefore transferring construction skills to local people.

Sea Space will be able to reinvest the proceeds from the sale of the site into local regeneration.

Once the sale is completed, the next step will be for Gemselect to apply for planning consent for its scheme from Hastings Borough Council.

Gordon Ritchie, Director of Gemselect, comments:

“We’re delighted to have been nominated as the preferred bidder for the Ore Valley development site. The site has lain dormant for many years and we’ll now have the opportunity to release its potential as a much-needed local housing scheme.

“We’ve been instrumental in the development of many quality, affordable homes in Hastings and St Leonards including other sites in the Ore Valley. We look forward to working with the local community over the coming months to provide a housing development layout and design all parties can be proud of for years to come.”

Matthew Rothery from property consultants Savills, who supported the tender process, says:

“This is good news for the local area and gives some certainty to an important yet challenging piece of land.”