Protect Our Greenspaces. Prevent Flooding.
The last link between St. Helen's Woods and the wider countryside.
We are a group of local residents who are campaigning to save a patch of land between St. Helen's Woods and The Ridge from development.
Campaign Update: Regulation 19 Consultation is Live
The Hastings Borough Council Local Plan has formally entered its Regulation 19 Publication stage—the final consultation phase before the plan is submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination by a Planning Inspector.
Key Consultation Dates & Deadlines
Consultation Closes: Thursday, 12th November 2026 at 11:59 pm (online)
Postal/Hand-delivered submissions must arrive at Muriel Matters House by 5:00 pm on 12th November.
Why This Stage is Different
Regulation 19 is not a general opinion-gathering exercise. The Planning Inspector will only assess whether the Local Plan satisfies strict statutory requirements: legal compliance and the tests of soundness (positively prepared, justified, effective, and consistent with national policy).
General objections will not carry the necessary weight. To protect Sandrock Bends, our challenge must dismantle the council's evidence base under planning law.
We Are Commissioning Professional Advice
To give the site the strongest possible defence, the steering group is commissioning professional planning and hydrological experts.
Our specialists are reviewing the published evidence base to lodge robust technical objections focused on:
Flooding, hydrology, and drainage: Critical surface water run-off and catchment risks.
Ground stability: Structural risks associated with the site's topography and slopes.
Ecology and biodiversity: Preservation of irreplaceable wildlife corridors linked to St Helen’s Wood.
95 Houses, Zero Corridor
Save Sandrock Bends are highlighting the significant environmental impacts and urgent concerns about infrastructure and increased traffic for the wider Hastings community. We are working with experts to address these issues. Residents are strongly encouraged to sign up for updates and provide feedback to the council to ensure public concerns are understood.
What Supporters Should Do Now
Hold off on submitting comments: Do not send your objections yet. Once our specialists complete their analysis, we will publish a step-by-step submission guide detailing the precise policy criteria and technical points to cite in your representation.
Support the fighting fund: Commissioning professional planning and hydrological reports requires substantial resources. Contributions to the campaign fighting fund directly cover these expert fees. Donate here for the Save Sandrock Bends campaign. Donations are organised by St Helen’s Park Preservation Society to cover the professional expertise required and campaign expenses.
Spread the word: Alert friends, neighbours, and community networks that the statutory consultation clock is running. Share on social media.
Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest news and emergency updates
Record and report sightings of wildlife via iRecord or iNaturalist and post your pictures on Facebook using #sandrockselfie
Write to or email our MP helena.dollimore.mp@parliament.uk with concerns about landslips, flooding, and erosion. See here for more details on these issues.
Contact us to help with leafleting, media management, or to offer other skills.
To email Hastings Borough Councillors: See their email addresses here
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