East Sussex County Council has confirmed the sale of the outdoor swimming site to the rear of the Rye Creative Centre on New Road.
In a decision notice published last week Cllr Nick Bennett, the council’s lead member for resources and climate change, formally declared the property – known as the Rye Bay Project Office – to be surplus to operational requirements.
In the decision notice, the county council confirmed it had received several offers for the site since April and has now selected a preferred purchaser. The details of this purchaser have not been disclosed due to reasons of commercial confidentiality.
The land forms part of the wider Freda Gardham School site, which has been allocated for residential development within the current Rye Neighbourhood Plan. In November last year, Rye-based Martello Developments announced plans for new houses and business units on the rest of the old school site, on land they currently lease from ESCC and home to the Rye Creative Centre.
Martello’s proposals at the Freda Gardham School site are part of their plans for 140 new homes in Rye which are yet to be officially submitted. A spokesperson for Martello told Rye News work was continuing on refining the proposals. “Martello are in the process of reviewing the planning advice and feedback received from Rother District Council, looking closely at the feedback provided at the various community engagement events and planning their next steps in relation to submitting planning applications. Martello will provide an update on the likely timescales of their projects soon.”
Image Credits: James Stewart , East Sussex County Council .
It is a real shame and a loss to the town that ESC did not require Martello Developments to support the Rye Creative Centre at this site. There are a number of options that could have been explored to construct a new RCC at this site and next to the proposed new housing. This would have resulted in fewer homes and less profit for the developer, but the town would have been able to retrain a substantial visual and performing arts community. Redruth in Cornwall has done just that with their magnificent Krowji Centre, developed with private and public investment on a former school site: https://www.krowji.org.uk/.
I do so agree Paul. Rye Creative centre is pivotal to the Arts scene of Rye. The Town thrives on Art in all its forms.