Retired teachers left devastated after being told their retirement home will close.

A home for retired teachers is closing as a charity cannot afford to run it any more. Residents at The Dene in Rottingdean, a sheltered housing property owned by the Teacher’s Housing Association (THA), have been informed of the upcoming closure. Councillor Bridget Fishleigh has said the 12 residents at the home in The Green were “devastated” to learn of the plans.

She said: “Many of the residents are old and frail and thought this would be their last home. The Dene provides community and shared experience, it has a large communal room overlooking the garden and is right in the centre of Rottingdean. It’s absolutely lovely.



“But it needs £1.8 million to fix it.” In other homes run by the association, residents have their own cooking facilities whereas at The Dene, meals are provided by an external catering company.

This no longer “fits in their [THA] business model”. In December 2022, a 93-year-old resident died in a fire at the home. The association has given a target date for the end of March for residents to vacate the home.

Residents have “assured tenancies” so the charity has a duty to help reaccommodate them elsewhere. A spokesman for the Teacher's Housing Association said: “It is with deep regret that we can confirm the Teachers’ Housing Association will be closing The Dene Sheltered Housing Service. Unfortunately, it not viable to convert the building, part of which is Grade II listed, to meet modern standards for sheltered housing.

"We will be working closely with all tenants to find homes for them, and the service will remain open whilst we support them through the process of securing suitable, alternative, accommodation. "We are very sorry and sincerely apologise to our tenants and their families for the distress this may be causing. The organisation is currently considering options for the building and will engage with the Local Authority and the Community regarding future plans as they develop.

"THA are a not-for-profit registered provider and are committed to ensuring the site or proceeds from a disposal are deployed to meet the organisations objectives”..