Battle care home given green light to expand

A fund set up in the wake of the Shoreham air disaster has received more than £15,000

Cedarwood House, in Hastings Road, applied to build a two-storey, 11-bedroom extension, alongside associated landscaping works, parking, an ambulance bay and bin stores.

The application was discussed yesterday (Thursday, August 20) by Rother District Council.

It was previously discussed by councillors on the authority’s planning committee on July 16 but deferred until yesterday because of a miscount in the voting.

Council planning officers recommended the scheme be given full approval.

In a report presented to the planning committee yesterday, officer Sarah Shepherd said 644 letters of objection have been received by the council.

Objectors said the premises was a listed building in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and it was inappropriate to pave over the garden.

Some residents fear the site will become crowded and overdeveloped and other objectors said the narrowness of the lane and proximity to neighbours made the application unsuitable.

Rother District Council also received almost 40 letters from supporters.

Residents backing the scheme said Cedarwood House had ‘very caring’ staff and the home needed more space.

Other supporters said more dementia care facilities were needed in the area.

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