A partnership between Hastings Borough Council and Optivo Housing Association project has created 38 social rented homes across seven sites in St Leonards-on-Sea since 2013.  St Leonards Town centre had a high level of poor quality private rented accommodation, with several high-profile abandoned properties in a dilapidated condition that were inhibiting regeneration.

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The Coastal Space project involved buying up some of the worst long-term derelict properties, and converting them into social housing, using loans from Hastings Council, grants from the Local Enterprise Partnership and Optivo HA funding. The latest phase of the project has created an additional 26 one- and two-bedroom apartments by refurbishing a former private school building.