East Sussex County Council have confirmed another piece of publicly owned land in Rye is being sold for development. The news that old swimming pool site next to Rye Creative Centre is up for sale comes two weeks after Rye News revealed plans to sell the playing fields by the Tilling Green Community Centre.
Adverts for the site next to the former Freda Gardham School went live at the end of May. Hastings-based The Land Agency says the former swimming pool and adjoining land is 5,632 sqm and is a “prime development opportunity (with) significant potential for residential or mixed use development.”
The land for sale has been allocated for housing in the Rye Neighbourhood Plan and forms part of the H7 plot which also includes the Rye Creative Centre and performance space. The council excluded the pool section of the plot from the lease given to Martello Developments. In December last year, Martello revealed proposals for new homes on their leased section of the land, although no plans have been officially submitted.
Unlike at Tilling Green, a spokesperson for ESCC says the council does not need to consult on the sale. “There is no need to undertake a public consultation at this stage for the former swimming pool site, as it isn’t classed as public open space. This matter went to the Lead Member on April 22 2025. The decision was made to declare the property to be surplus to operational requirements and to dispose of it. The decision can be found here: Decision – Rye Bay Project Office, Rye – Disposal of Freehold | East Sussex County Council”
Anthony Kimber from Rye Neighbourhood Plan says the land currently on sale presents a number of issues for potential developers. “It is brownfield and would require demolition of the old pool infrastructure. There would be all the usual questions about access, flood risk, sewage and design. Once cleared it would be a prominent site on the Marsh. It would need integration with whatever Martello (or any other developer) designs for their scheme to the pool’s north.”
At Tilling Green, notices have now been posted explaining the sale of the playing fields next to the community centre. Comments on the proposal can be given to ESCC until June 16. Martello have put forward plans for homes on the site and the newly formed Rye Community Land Trust is also looking into building new housing on the fields.
Image Credits: Anthony Kimber , Rightmove/The Land Agency , Kenneth Bird .
With regard to the Freda Gardham site, why bother with just the old swimming pool.
Why not buldose the whole site and build a petrol station and a shopping mall
The town desparatly needs it
A shopping Mall. Heaven forbid!
As the flood defenses near completion,….funny that. Or just a coincidence?
People have to realise development sites in Rye are at a Premium,and now the flood defences are nearly finished, the excuses of flood plains,and not in my backyard,are futile.