FAQs
If you have any questions or inquiries, please feel free to reach out to us.
Rye is an historic citadel of significant heritage value, and the town’s character and history is at the forefront of the design process. The unique characteristics of Rye continue to inform the layout, massing and design of the proposed developments to ensure the are sympathetic to and preserve the historic value of the town and its many heritage assets. The team includes a heritage specialist who has guided the proposals accordingly.
RX Architects are an award-winning practice in East Sussex. Defined by the Rye Bay and Hastings coastline, RXA deliver innovative projects from the South coast to the High Weald and beyond.
RXA specialise in great design, strongly influenced by a sense of place.
RX Architects is a design led practice based in Rye, East Sussex founded in2016. RXA specialise in high end residential and mixed-use commercial projects and see architecture as a client-centred process a constant dialogue between architect, client and contractor. The practice prides itself on high standards of design and architectural ambition.
The studio is led by Derek Rankin RIBA and Rob Pollard RIBA who have delivered multiple RIBA award winning projects in the SouthEast. Rob & Derek have collaborated for 10 years on a wide variety of projects, with the shared core principles of sustainable design, exploring a response to site context and maximising the possibilities from a client brief. This shared drive and focus has helped to deliver many unique and inspiring schemes.
RX Architects work closely with clients to develop their brief and explore design options to suit each individual client needs, aspirations and budget. RXA offer a full architectural and design service covering all RIBA stages.
All development projects focus on locality, with individual sites selected in unique environments and bespoke designs to suit. Previous projects include a residential development on Rye’s riverfront, a mixed-use development in Appledore adjacent to the Military Canal, a 12 homes scheme also in Appledore which included 4 affordable houses and 1 for community use at a low rent given over to the Parish Council, residential developments on the Seafront in Pett Level and redevelopments of several brownfield sites in Hastings. Developments range in scale from one-off luxury houses to large scale mixed-use projects.
Martello Developments is a residential and commercial property developer based in Rye, East Sussex. The Martello office is located on the riverfront in Rye.
Martello invests heavily in the Arts, and have been proud sponsors of both the Jazz Festival and Arts Festival as well as ongoing involvement in the Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition.
Martello develops projects which are unique and with a focus on quality. Local craftspeople are used in the projects to create a bespoke feel with an emphasis on the sense of place. The development projects all have high design ambition regardless of end value, with affordable housing, live work units and commercial premises all given the same level of attention to detail as the high-end luxury housing schemes.
The project team are working with Heritage and Landscape officers at Rother District Council as part of the PPA process to ensure that views to and from the Citadel remain one of Rye's key features.
Each of the development sites will have allocated, off-street parking proportionate to the number of new homes being provided. The sites are all close to public transport networks, offering a range of transport methods for residents. Highways improvements (such as a new, improved access to the Rock Channel site) will be delivered as part of the projects.
Answered in each individual site
New high-quality homes, affordable housing, new creative/commercial units, biodiversity net gain across all sites, a new riverside walkway, CIL contributions to fund local infrastructure, investment in the town, providing local jobs. New open informal nature reserve to be created as substantial public amenity
Martello intend to build schemes that are policy compliant, subject to viability, so it is anticipated that a significant number of much needed affordable homes will be provided across the four sites.
50 New homes. Housing mix proposed is 4 x 1 Bed maisonettes, 9 x 2 Bed houses, 16x 3 Bed houses, 11 x 4 Bed houses, 2 x 5 Bed houses, 8 x 2 Bed apartments. Off street parking for each homes. A new commercial/retail premises with flats above fronting on to New Road.
45 New homes. Housing mix proposed is 19 x 2 Bed apartments, 8 x 3 bed apartments, 8 x 2 Bed houses, 10 x 3 Bed houses, 8 x 4 Bed houses. It is intended to create a Nature Reserve that will occupy approximately 90% of the site. A new, purpose built Creative Centre to rehouse the artists from the Rye Creative Centre.
24 New homes. Housing mix proposed is 9 x 2 Bed apartments, 1 x 2 Bed house, 14 x 3 bed houses. Commercial units and off-street parking to ground floor.
21 New homes. Housing mix proposed is 4 x 1 Bed maisonettes, 7 x 2 Bed houses, 10 x 3 Bed houses. Mix of terraced and semi-detached, private gardens, 42 off street parking spaces. Community centre to be retained and refurbished.
Martello working with RXA have delivered other housing schemes in Rye, Pett Level and Appledore for waterfront housing, requiring close collaboration with the Environment Agency to manage flood risk and enhance defenses where necessary.
Homes to be designed to the 1 in 1000 year flood event modelling which sets all habitable accommodation above certain floor levels, suitable drainage strategies, bunding integrated into landscaping strategies where required, design developed in accordance with the Environment Agency etc…
Each of the sites will deliver 10% Biodiversity Net Gain- improving local wildlife and ecological habitats. Ecological enhancement measures will be based on the existing habitats on site (such as riverine habitats) and we will seek to provide new habitats where possible. The projects will also be required to protect existing designated sites (such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest).
Existing buildings on any of the sites will be audited and materials recycled and reused on the sites to create crush for roadways and foundations. All houses will be highly insulated and air tight to exceed building regulation requirements, and will combine heat pumps with solar panels to result in lower longterm running costs and energy output. Large areas of open green space to be created with biodiversity net gain. Flood risk mitigation measures will be integrated into the schemes along with SUDS sustainable drainage systems. All units will be supplied with EV charging points
There will be opportunities along the way for local stakeholders to feed into the process, including through the website and by attending community engagement events.
It is really difficult to give a precise answer to this as the Planning System is not a linear process. If all goes according to plan then construction would be anticipated to start in 2026.
It is anticipated that planning applications will be submitted in the Summer of 2025, once they have been submitted the statutory timeframe for a planning application is 13 weeks.
It is hoped that planning applications will be submitted to Rother District Council in the Spring/Summer of 2025.
The tenants at the Rye Creative Centre have been consulted and are aware of these proposals. Further engagement with them will be undertaken over the coming weeks and months and their input has been very welcome.
Martello will be engaging in a whole variety of ways with local stakeholders to include meetings with ward councillors, Rye Town Councillors, with a bespoke website dedicated to the project. There will be a series of community engagement events in the first two quarters of 2025.
Still have questions?
We understand that our FAQs can't possibly cover every aspect of this exciting project. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.