Former Northeye prison site in Bexhill handed to Homes England for new homes
The former HMP Northeye site in Bexhill has been formally transferred from the Home Office to Homes England, marking a major step forward for delivering new homes and regeneration on this long-identified development site.
The Northeye site has been allocated for housing in Rother District Council’s adopted 2019 Local Plan and is also included in the Council’s emerging Local Plan, now out for consultation. With the transfer complete, Homes England intends to bring the site forward for housing development in partnership with the council and the local community.
Amy Rees, Chief Executive of Homes England, said:
The transfer of the Northeye site represents not only a significant local milestone but also a clear example of Homes England’s national strategy in action, unlocking public land, working in partnership with places, and helping to deliver the homes and places communities need for the future.
This transfer means we can now start work to bring the former Northeye site back into use. By working with the council and the local community, we want to help deliver new homes that meet local needs and support Bexhill’s future.
Over the coming months, Homes England will work closely with Rother District Council, community groups, and local residents to shape proposals that reflect local priorities and support Bexhill’s long-term aspirations. In the short term, the Agency will begin essential maintenance and site management.
The transfer directly supports Homes England’s recently launched Strategic Plan 2025–2030, which sets out a national mission to accelerate housing delivery and unlock public land for regeneration. The plan outlines how the Agency will help deliver the government’s target of 1.5 million new homes this Parliament, significantly increase housing supply across all tenures, and deliver the biggest boost to social and affordable housing in a generation.
As part of this strategy, the Agency is committed to removing barriers to development and supporting high quality, mixed-tenure communities. This will help shape future proposals for Northeye, ensuring the site supports a thriving and resilient community.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- The transfer has taken place under the government’s Single Land Programme, which brings unused public land into productive use to support housing delivery and community led regeneration
- Homes England has appointed a consultant team already who will be undertaking a programme of survey work in the coming months. The team will support the Agency with the draft allocation, along with preparing and implementing a planning strategy and securing a development partner.
About Homes England
We are the government’s housing and regeneration Agency, and we’re here to drive the creation of more affordable, quality homes and thriving places so that everyone has a place to live and grow.
We make this happen by working in partnership with thousands of organisations of all sizes, using our powers, expertise, land, capital and influence to bring investment to communities and get more quality homes built.
Learn more about us: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/homes-england/about
Press Office Contact Details
Email: media@homesengland.gov.uk
Phone: 0207 874 8262