Hastings Observer Building (Pic heavy!)

The Observer Building is located at 53 Cambridge Road in the
Castle Ward (town centre) of Hastings. The building, designed by prolific Hastings architect, Henry Ward, was built in 1924 for FJ Parsons and served as the Observer Newspaper offices and printworks for many years.
The building itself comprises 41,00ft2 accommodation over seven floors. It occupies a significant position in the town centre being situated on the ring road, but also having its side elevation facing into the Trinity Triangle area which comprises Trinity Street, Claremont and Robertson Street. It has access from three points – Claremont, Prospect Place and Cambridge Road with its front facade facing onto Cambridge Road.
The building has not been used as a printworks since 1985 where it received permission for change of use to retail store and warehouse, followed by over ten further planning applications, none of which have been taken forward to development, for conversion into residential, and residential / commercial, of varying densities.
The building has changed ownership several times over the past ten years but its continuing dereliction is apparent. Hastings Trust has a significant interest in the renovation and revitalisation of the building as a hub for innovation, enterprise and creativity and has, for some months, been quietly talking with a number of local people, groups and organisations who share this desire, and a strong steering group has been formed. We now need to gather more interest and support.
It is currently in the ownership of a South African Investment Bank, Investec, with whom preliminary discussions have taken place with regard to purchase by Hastings Trust. We are not yet, despite significant investigatory and preliminary works, in a position to be able to progress to purchase, and we have heard today that Investec now intend to auction the building in early November. With more time we would be able to carry out the next stage of detailed feasibility works to test viability of various proposed schemes and, if viable, we are confident that we would be able to secure, in partnership, the necessary investment to save this building and bring it back into use for the benefit of the town.
The building is interesting for many reasons:
• there is huge community interest in the building, not only because it has been an eyesore for so many years, but also because of the quality of the facade, its prominence in the town, the quality of space which could be revitalised, and the history of the building as a key place of employment and social interaction.
• The façade is architecturally interest and there is a keen desire to save it; what is also interesting is that it was designed by Henry Ward, prolific Hastings based architect and so there is a coherence therefore with other buildings in the town including the impressive Debenhams Department Store.
• Post industrial revolution heritage – there are few of these buildings remaining, the structure is reinforced concrete with steel floors to hold the hot metal press and offset litho printing equipment. It is unfortunate that none of the original equipment is still in situ but the structure itself could provide an opportunity to preserve some of England's industrial heritage

Click to expand...