Plans Approved To Turn Former Eastbourne Heritage Centre Into Bar And Restaurant
Plans to convert a Grade II listed former heritage centre in Eastbourne into a bar and restaurant have been approved.
Eastbourne Borough Council's planning committee has given the green light to proposals to redevelop Tower House on Carlisle Road, which has stood vacant since the Eastbourne Heritage Centre closed in 2025.
The scheme includes the construction of a part single-storey, part three-storey extension at the rear of the Victorian building.
Planning agent Stephen Birrell, speaking on behalf of the applicant, said bringing the site back into use was the best way to preserve the historic building.
He said:
"Since its closure as the Eastbourne Heritage Centre in 2025 this building has stood vacant.
"As we know the most effective way to preserve a heritage asset is to ensure it remains in active, viable use."
Mr Birrell said the proposed restaurant and lounge bar would complement the Devonshire Quarter – Eastbourne's cultural and arts district – while boosting tourism and the town's evening economy.
The development is also expected to create around 15 full-time jobs.
Despite receiving support from the council's conservation officer and The Eastbourne Society, the plans attracted objections from some local residents.
One objector told councillors the scale of the development could damage the building's original Victorian character, while others raised concerns about road safety and what they described as an oversupply of restaurants in the area.
Planning committee members voted to approve the application, saying the scheme would help secure the long-term future of the historic building.
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