Hastings caravan park's expansion plan sparks outrage

A proposal submitted for Combe Haven Holiday Park in Harley Shute Road, St Leonards, intends to install 15 caravans on a former golf course area.

The park, owning around 900 static caravan pitches and varieties of leisure facilities across 96 acres, now aims to convert the north-eastern corner, formerly a "foot-golf" course, into a static holiday caravan area.

Several meters away from Reedswood Road and Asten Close residents' gardens, the proposed development sparked a wave of disapprovals recorded on Hastings Borough Council's planning portal.

The entrance to the holiday park (Image: Google)

Currently, 84 objections have been submitted, with residents worried about the environmental impact, flooding, and noise.

Several objections also raised concerns about alleged antisocial behaviour linked to the park.

Figures obtained show that Sussex Police recorded 1,274 incidents related to Combe Haven Holiday Park between January 2012 and October 2025

In the latest development, a petition has now been launched against the plan, attracting 172 signatures at the time of writing.

The triangular green patch is where the caravans would go, backing onto Reedswood Road (Image: Google)

The petition reads: "We object to the proposed development, on the grounds that it has potentially significant implications for the environment, wildlife, flooding, resident’s privacy and potential noise/antisocial behaviour."

The petition can be viewed on the Hastings Borough Council online planning portal.

Many of the objections lodged on the planning portal cite similar concerns.

One objector, Trude Betts, said: “Enough wildlife has been wiped out. Please stop this now. There is no green space left. This is in an area of natural beauty.”

A view of the neighbouring houses from the proposed site (Image: Lin Gregory)

Debbie Bennett wrote in objection: “My garden is tiny. And now just ten feet beyond my fence, they're proposing to install not one, but fifteen caravans.

"I already have to keep my bedroom curtains closed due to lack of privacy. In the event of there being fifteen caravans there, the situation will be a hundred times worse."

John Pilkington said: "This would cause great disruption to the properties that border this area, with the proposed location of the caravans being so close to the boundary of their properties.

"This also raises safety concerns with the close proximity of the site, with very little screening to block unwanted access to the existing properties. I strongly object."

Caravans at Combe Valley Holiday Park (Image: Nigel Chadwick)

Another objector, Joel Cahen said: "I object to the colossal devastation of this natural oasis for precious English wildlife."

A decision on the proposal is due on December 22.

The full application can be viewed on the Hastings Borough Council planning portal using the reference HS/FA/25/00639.