Agenda item

Erection of two separate two and a half storey buildings, containing a total of 8no. 2 bed flats and 2no. 1 bed flats, and associated external works following demolition of existing dwelling, including new access from Upland Road OLD TOWN.   

Two additional objections were reported at the meeting and referred to size, design and parking issues.

The East Sussex County Council Suds team had confirmed that the additional information submitted addressed their concerns. They requested a number of additional conditions to ensure surface water runoff from the development was managed safely, should the application be approved.

Mr Farrin addressed the committee in objection stating that the scale and appearance of the development was too large.  He also raised concerns about the proximity of the development to the South Downs National Park one of the main entrances to Eastbourne.  Mr Farrin felt that the design would be out of keeping and harmful to the street scene.

Mr Newton-Brown addressed the committee in objection stating that the development was too high and an overdevelopment of the site.  He felt that there would be an increase in parking issues.

Councillor Dow, Ward Councillor, addressed the committee in objection stating that the proposal would be an overdevelopment and out of keeping with the surrounding area.

The Senior Specialist Advisor for Planning advised the committee that computer generated images produced by objectors and shown to committee, were not provided by the architect or agent and therefore were indicative only and their accuracy could not be confirmed.

During the debate, Councillor Coles sought to read a letter from Councillor Ungar and the legal advisor advised that this was not permitted.

The committee widely discussed the proposal, the previous decision and the Inspectors decision and agreed that the design was still an overdevelopment due to the design, bulk and mass of the proposed building.  The Members also agreed that the sizes of some of the rooms in the proposed development were too small.

A motion to approve the application, proposed by Councillor Murdoch and seconded by Councillor Taylor was lost 3 votes to 5.

The Senior Specialist Advisor for Planning advised that any reason for refusal should be in line with the previous refusal; to introduce other reasons would open the Council to a claim of costs.

RESOLVED: (By 5 votes to 3) That permission be refused on the grounds that:

1)   The proposed buildings, by reason of their design, bulk, mass, siting and orientation would be out of character with the prevailing pattern of development in the area and would also have an overbearing and unneighbourly relationship to the occupiers of the nearby residential properties. The development would therefore fail to comply with policies B2 and D10a of the Eastbourne Core Strategy Local Plan 2013, Policies UHT1 and UHT2 and HO20 of the Eastbourne Borough Plan (Saved policies) 2007 and paragraphs 56-66 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

2)   There is no mechanism in place to secure a Local Labour Agreement in accordance with the Local Employment and Training SPD dated November 2016.

Appeal

Should the applicant appeal the decision the appropriate course of action to be followed, taking into account the criteria set by the Planning Inspectorate, is considered to be written representations.