FRESH plans to redevelop the former Claremont Hotel site on Eastbourne seafront are moving a step closer to submission, with developers revealing strong public backing following a community consultation.
The scheme, which proposes 65 new apartments on the prominent seafront plot, was first unveiled last autumn. Now, the project team says it has been refining the plans following feedback gathered at a public engagement event held in October 2025 at the Towner Eastbourne.
According to the developers, 78 per cent of respondents agreed it is important to restore The Claremont site, which has remained vacant since the former hotel was demolished. A further 84 per cent said the proposed balance between heritage and modern living was right, while 82.5 per cent described their overall impression of the scheme as either ‘quite positive’ or ‘very positive’.
The Claremont Hotel, once a landmark on the town’s seafront, was destroyed by fire in November 2019. Its condition deteriorated further during Storm Ciara in early 2020, and the remains of the building were demolished later that year, leaving a long-standing gap along the promenade.
Developers say they have continued to work closely with their project team and specialist consultants in recent months, alongside ongoing discussions with Historic England, to ensure the design reflects the required character of the surrounding conservation area.
The proposed development aims to deliver high-quality, energy-efficient apartments while being sensitive to the architectural heritage of the seafront. Landscaping and sustainable building standards form part of the evolving plans.
Steve Neocleous, director of SMN Planning & Development Support, said previously that he believed residents would welcome progress on a site that has “been a blight on Eastbourne’s landscape for so long”.
A planning application is now scheduled to be submitted to Eastbourne Borough Council in Spring 2026.
