Affordable housebuilder, Orbit Homes, is set to deliver 52 brand-new properties in St. Leonards-on-Sea, Hastings. Porters Grove, a 23-acre development which occupies the former Darwell Campus of St Leonards Academy, will feature a public open space, footpaths, and children’s play areas.

Orbit Homes will deliver 52 affordable properties on the site, which will be available for local people through affordable rent or shared ownership. Bellway Kent is building 158 new homes which can be purchased at market sale. The development will deliver 210 plots in total.

The 52 affordable homes will include 36 affordable rent and 16 shared ownership units.

The 36 affordable rent units comprise of 16 one-bedroom apartments, nine two-bedroom houses, seven three-bedroom houses and four four-bedrooms houses. The 16 shared ownership units comprise of seven two-bedroom houses and nine three-bedroom houses.

Fraser Wells, regional managing director at Orbit Homes, said:

“We are delighted to be working with Bellway to deliver this exciting new development in St. Leonards-on-Sea.

The boundaries of Porters Grove are tree-lined, offering privacy from the neighbouring residential streets and backs onto Dogkennel Wood, which is a site of nature conservation importance.

“Our collection of 52 affordable rent and shared ownership homes will help address the lack of affordable housing in the local area and help us deliver our 2025 Strategy to
increase the number of affordable homes we deliver.”

Dan Merriman, land director of Bellway Kent, said:

“We are pleased to welcome Orbit on board at Porters Grove in St. Leonards-on-Sea, to support Bellway Kent in the delivery of our 210-home development.

“Work has started on the development and Bellway intends to release the first private homes for sale onto the open market this winter. The 52 affordable homes to be provided by Orbit will complement the existing scheme and will provide much needed new, affordable housing to this part of Hastings.”

Orbit Homes exchanged contracts on the site in July 2022, for the acquisition of 52 S106 affordable homes. Porters Grove will provide 16 shared ownership and 36 affordable rent properties for delivery between February 2024 and February 2026.