Statement on behalf of Education Futures Trust Trustees & The Owners & Directors of Hastings United Football Club
HUFC and EFT are both committed to improving the sporting and educational facilities and opportunities for the community of Hastings and have recently been in discussion and subsequently agreed to collaborate on their proposed development plans to ensure the long-term sustainability of each organisation while providing the community of Hastings with a first-class sporting, educational and recreational Community Hub.
Proposed developments, which would be undertaken separately through the normal planning process and other relevant statutory and voluntary organisations, would nevertheless be complimentary and benefit from shared resources and facilities whenever possible.
An outline of each project is as follows:
EFT – Education Futures Trust are looking to secure significant investment to deliver an enhanced sporting infrastructure on the site. This will include the installation of a new floodlit 3G artificial grass pitch designed to accommodate one 7v7 football pitch, with the flexibility to be subdivided into two 5v5 pitches. This adaptable configuration will support a wide range of age groups, training formats, and community use. In addition, Education Futures Trust are seeking to undertake the resurfacing of the existing Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) to support alternative sports and inclusive recreational activities such as basketball, netball, and other community uses.
HUFC – Hastings United Football Club will seek to undertake the replacement of the existing grass pitch with a 3G pitch which will be rotated to a north south axis instead of the current east west axis. The installation of the new 3G pitch, with associated facilities, will be Phase1 of the Club’s Development Plan.
Further Phases of the development will include a new Main Stand, the installation of a new 9 x 9 3G pitch, Padel Courts and various ancillary facilities, e.g. new toilet facilities and a possible new fan zone. The final Phase will be the re-purposing or replacement of the existing Main Stand.
It is also the intention to create a Nature Trail around and through both sites for the benefit of the local community and this project has already been agreed by the EFT Trustees and HUFC Directors as an example of joint enterprise.
These developments will support structured player development pathways, competitive fixtures, training programmes, and community football initiatives, enhancing the overall capacity and versatility of both sites and in addition provide an opportunity for the development of further sporting and recreational opportunities.
The Firs site development directly responds to identified deficiencies in local sports provision, as set out in the Hastings Borough Council (HBC) Playing Pitch Strategy, which highlights a shortfall in accessible, high-quality football pitches and multi-sport facilities across the borough. The proposed development seeks to address this unmet demand by significantly increasing both the quantity and quality of provision, ensuring facilities are available to meet current and future community needs.
Collectively, the proposed facilities will play a meaningful role in tackling health inequalities within Hastings, where levels of physical inactivity and associated health outcomes are disproportionately high in certain communities. By providing accessible, modern, and inclusive sports facilities, the development will encourage increased participation in physical activity, support mental and physical wellbeing, and help remove barriers to engagement for young people and underrepresented groups.
The collaboration combines the educational and community-focused expertise of Education Futures Trust with the established football development pathways and outreach programmes of Hastings United Football Club. Together, the organisations seek to create a coordinated and sustainable sports and education environment that promotes physical wellbeing, youth development, and community engagement, through affordable and accessible activity and learning.
EFT & HUFC enjoy considerable support from across the community of Hastings including those from the Public Sector, Voluntary Sector and the Business community.
Both partners are committed to working jointly with local authorities, planning bodies, and local stakeholders to ensure that the development delivers long-term social value, aligns with local priorities, and meets relevant sustainability, safeguarding, and accessibility standards.
The development of the Firs and Pilot Field sites represents a significant opportunity to deliver a legacy that addresses identified gaps in provision, reduces health inequalities, and strengthens community cohesion through education and sport. We hope you will feel able to join us in this much needed and important contribution to the whole community.
Our next steps:
HUFC – currently engaged with a local Planning Consultant and other Professional Advisors on Phase 1 of the Project and preparing feasibility study on future development initiatives.
EFT – commissioning of a consultant to develop a project plan that meets Football Foundation expectations for 3G pitches, including technical design, site drawings, planning pathway, transport/parking assessment, business case, lifecycle and sustainability planning, match‑funding plan, and delivery strategy.
Signed on behalf of the EFT Trustees – Allison Baines – Chair of Trustees
Signed on behalf of HUFC Owners/Directors – Dean White – Chair of Directors
Signed on behalf of HUFC Staff & Volunteers – Ben White – General Manager
Signed on behalf of EFT Staff & Volunteers – Zoe Jackson – CEO & Designated Safeguarding Lead
