Commercial Development in East Sussex
East Sussex stands as an ever-evolving hub for commercial development. With a variety of coastal, and rural areas, the county offers opportunities for businesses seeking growth and expansion.
Over the past ten years, East Sussex has benefited from a vast amount of investment into commercial property, supporting SMEs in the area to grow and expand, as well as providing modern and accessible workspace for those opting for a more hybrid work model.
This article explores the new commercial developments that have been created in the county and what they can offer to new and growing businesses in the region.
Eastbourne
Foundry – Located inside of the Beacon Shopping Centre, Foundry offers private offices, wellness suites, meeting rooms and a coworking member’s lounge. From freelancers and remote workers to startups or established businesses, the Foundry was created to support a new, easy style of co-working.
Pacific House – The first development on the Innovation Park is Pacific House – a contemporary business centre. With a range of features including meeting rooms, communal space, and office space from 614sq ft to 4,412 sq ft, it is suitable for company’s working practises in a post-pandemic world.
Hastings
Platform Business Centre – The Platform Business Centre in Hastings was supported by East Sussex County Council’s ‘Stalled Sites Fund’ and ‘Incubator Fund’ in August 2021, which developed 10 units to be utilised for workshop, warehouse, or office use. Having now just completed phase 3 of the development, Platform now has 25 units of varying sizes and houses businesses such as Booyah Vitality, 1066 Gin and Project Yonder.
Churchfields Business Centre – Hastings Borough Council secured funding to develop a new business centre on Churchfields Industrial Estate in St Leonards. Built to high, sustainable BREEAM standard, it aims to minimise tenant costs and promotes ‘greener’ working. Churchfields Business Centre is set on 2 storeys, contains 29 small business units ranging from 280ft² to 387 ft² in size, and can be used for office, light industry, or high-tech.
Observer Building – Built in 1924 and later abandoned in 1985. In 2019, it was purchased by Hastings Commons, and has since undergone a major refurbishment to bring the building back in to use as office and co-working space. The Observer Building has the ability to host conferences and networking event in a space which can hold a capacity of 250 people, the ‘Incubator Space’ for pop-up exhibitions and small markets, OB Café, a boardroom, co-working space, and permanent office units.
Freedom Works – The former Debenhams building situated on Robertson Street has been transformed into co-working and flexible workspace. The Palace Workspace was Freedom Works ninth location along the Southeast Coast and began its inception in 2016, with an ethos of creating space where like-minded people could work together, create opportunities to network and collaborate. It has the ability to host desk hourly across all its locations, hire meeting room space, rent an office, and even use as a virtual office. The Palace Workspace is currently home to mix of businesses who rent private office space or take advantage of the virtual office space, including Let’s Do Business Group, Goldstar IT, Care 247, Tuckers Solicitors, Spotlight HR, Mobile Repair Services, Heathercroft Training, Centerpoint Research.
Lewes
Atelier Lewes – The Atelier in Lewes is already home to local and new businesses such as a hearing surgery, laptop shop, fitness gym and wine trader. Each unit offers high ceilings and include a mezzanine area. There are units available to rent or buy that are suitable for office, studio, leisure, and retail space, ranging from 630 sq ft to 18,400 sq ft.
Eastside Business Park – Eastside Business Park is a development of B1 and B2 business units within the Newhaven Enterprise Zone and is a strong option for businesses looking to grow. It consists of two parts – Eastside South which has units available to be adapted to the use of the tenant and Eastside North which is currently awaiting development. Businesses such as Cheeky Wipes, Valet PRO and Hello Flemingo are current residents at The Eastside Business Park.
Rother
Flimwell Park – As seen on Countryfile, Flimwell Park is a pioneering new mixed-use woodland centre in the heart of the countryside. The architecture was inspired by ecologists, planners, and designers, with the influence of the surrounding woodlands. Flimwell Park was designed with a focus on sustainability, powered by solar panels, electric car charging points and cycle hire facilities being some of its key features. There are eight 84m2 two-storey workplace units of private and shared offices and co-working space, which is currently occupied by local businesses, including Wild Iris Spa, Swole Panda, The Hive, The Potters Studio and Quench Cycles.
Bexhill Enterprise Park – Developed by economic development company Sea Change Sussex, and overlooking the A2690 Combe Valley Way, Bexhill Enterprise Park is made up of eight plots – one for a pub/restaurant/hotel site, High Weald House, and Glover’s House. Glover’s House was the first site to be developed, with its completion in December 2015, and is fully let to national holiday park company Park Holidays UK. The High Weald House offers offices to let from 620 sq ft to 8,839 sq ft, with features like raised floors, natural ventilation, and tea points on each floor.
Wealden
Chaucer Industrial Estate – Located in Polegate, Chaucer Industrial Estate provides a range of industrial uses to the local business area. Within Polegate and Willingdon, the majority of local business activity happens at the estate, due to the 37 units it is home to. Some of the businesses located at the estate are The Ordinary Climbers Rock Climbing Gym, Sussex Plumbing Supplies, and Full Range Fitness.
Ashdown Business Park – Ashdown Business Park in Uckfield is a development site, adjoining A22 and A272. There are 11 sites, with 6 sold to a variety of businesses, including a plumbing and central heating company and an engineering company.
Swallow Business Park – The Swallow Business Park is currently undergoing Phase 5. Units here range from 1,600 to 15,000 sq ft – a combined total of 105,000 sq ft. Listed features include Business Park, Light Industrial, Parking and Warehouse.
Connect 27 – This is a development of 22 modern warehouse and industrial units which offer adaptable space. The units here range from 1,851 to 3,078 sq ft. Access to the Business Park is via the A27 and facilities include 6m minimum eaves height, private estate road and security surveillance, ability to combine units, and suitable for a variety of uses.
