Why We Exist

Dominant models of regeneration, ownership and development have failed and exploited our communities for decades. Too often local people have been disempowered and displaced, geographic divisions exacerbated, inequality increased, our environment damaged, and the physical and social fabric of a place destroyed.

Hastings Commons is an ambitious, pioneering approach to community-led regeneration in the White Rock neighbourhood of Hastings that seeks to challenge this by offering a real alternative.

The Commons is a collection of buildings and spaces in which commoners (people who step up to take action) work together to positively change their environment for themselves and for future generations. It is supported by an ecosystem of partner organisations each committed to a common goal.

Who we are | Our Story | FAQs

What we do

We look out for each other and look after the place.

We want to see a place shaped by local people for local benefit, that retains its character and diversity and is full of community-owned, vibrant, beautiful and inclusive spaces and homes, collaboratively managed and affordable for generations to come.

Hastings Commons is a collection of buildings and spaces in which commoners (tenants, team, trustees… anyone who steps up to take action with others for the common good) can connect to one another, grow, have fun and make an impact.

We take derelict and difficult buildings into community ownership and transform them into homes, workspaces and social spaces that will remain affordable and inclusive for all. We do that through direct delivery, enabling others, and by advocating for change. Our focus is on celebrating and supporting people’s ideas and energy, making sure everyone has the power and agency to shape the neighbourhood and enhance their lives.

Since 2014, we have brought over 8,500 square metres of floor space into custodian ownership across a whole cluster of buildings in the centre of Hastings, renovating them to a high quality, offering genuinely affordable rents, and supporting residents and businesses to collaborate and take more control of where they live and work.

Our buildings | Our programmes | Our annual reports

Check out our CEO Jess Steele sharing the story of Hastings Commons at Coalville CAN in July 2022


HOW WE DO IT

It is not just what we do but how we do it that creates local transformation.  We believe there are six principles of effective regeneration:

Building on what we already have …both the people and buildings and ‘darning the fabric’, renovating buildings rather than demolishing and building new, valuing everyone and recognising people’s diverse strengths and gifts rather than deficits and needs.

Building agency and power for people to act on issues affecting them, through sustained engagement, organising, care, and genuine co-creation.

Actively seeking equity and inclusion …focus on affordability, accessibility, and creating social value, especially in relation to intersectional disadvantage. Use active and relevant outreach and build long-term relationships and networks. Continually seek to further embed diversity across all aspects of the organisation and governance.

Acting quickly and adapting as you go, reflecting and learning all the time, “turning failure into the development cost of the next success”. We call this Phased Organic Development (POD).

Commoning. The idea of commoning is both an ancient land management practice (where people had access to and responsibility for common land and resources to fulfil their basic needs) and a highly-relevant current priority. ‘Commoning’ involves people working together to positively change their environment, and in doing so taking opportunities to improve their own lives within an open and mutually-supportive community.

Thinking long-term - unlike the short-termism of traditional models, effective regeneration takes time and should achieve long-term benefits to the community.

We believe passionately that the traditional top-down models of regeneration and slash and burn renewal are broken, and that there is an alternative to the false choice of gentrification or decline

Long term ownership by the Community Land Trust enables us to provide affordable spaces with security of tenure.

Get involved and become part of our commoning community