At the beginning of optimistically a decent Summer, Howch is still waiting on a Heads of Terms Agreement granted by the C of E (who own the Church and surrounding land). This would allow Richard Upton access to the building, which he plans to repurpose, and us to begin stabilisation of the plot.

We have invited Helena Dollimore, our MP, to visit our site and support the proposed Cohousing scheme (which is protected by Community Land Trust ethics).

On 24th May I visited the Landslide Stabilisation drop in at the Queen Victoria hotel. A group of residents who were affected by the partial cliff collapse last year have come up with early ideas for a stabilisation plan. They are named the Make Haste team (makehaste2025@gmail.com) and provided maps, geological information, drone footage and space for discussion. Approximately one hundred and fifty people attended. The Howch plot is also impacted by clay slippage, but is a gentler slope with access above and below. We are on their mailing list and will keep in contact.

Earlier in May, Howch attended the national Community Land Trust gathering in Bexhill. It was informative to meet other volunteers but we didn’t receive much attention from the public.

However we remain committed and Howch is ready to welcome any new Board members to help guide this innovative housing project to completion.

Kate Moran

St. Leonards Parish Church is a listed building in St Leonards on Sea that was designed (by Adrian Gilbert-Scott) and built to replace the former parish church that was destroyed by a direct hit during world war two.

HOWCH have been active in recent discussions on the future of this building. It is currently closed because the land around it is subsiding rapidly due to inadequate stabilisation of the surrounding cliffs.

HOWCH have been awarded a small grant by The Architectural Heritage Fund to perform site assessments, and form a liaison with the local charity the Seaview Project. We advocate a housing scheme for women aged 50+ including not just conversion of the church but use of communal gardens in the wider site.