Plans for the development of a new contemporary arts venue in Hastings, East Sussex, to house the Jerwood Foundation's collection of 20th and 21st century British art, have been given the green light.

Hastings Borough Council (HBC) approved planning permission for the Jerwood Gallery, which will act as a regional venue for the foundation's Visual Arts programme and is set to boast more than 500sq m (5,382sq ft) of gallery space, a sculpture courtyard and a café. Designed by architects HAT Projects, the scheme also includes an education space and a research and archive facility, as well as offices and a new public space as part of a bid to transform the town's Stade site. An existing coach park will be relocated.

The foundation plans to cover the costs of designing, building and operating the gallery, while wider public realm improvements surrounding the site will benefit from a £2m grant awarded through the government's Sea Change initiative. HBC, East Sussex County Council and the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) are also providing financial support for the work, which is now expected to start in late spring 2010.