Decision due on Eastbourne apartments at ex-industrial site

On Tuesday (April 20), Eastbourne Borough Council’s planning committee is set to consider plans to build apartments in place of the former Gate Court Dairy building in Waterworks Road.

The application, from developer Lincoln Holland Holdings Limited, seeks permission to demolish the existing buildings and build 60 apartments in its place, spread over three buildings. 

In a planning statement submitted as part of the application, a spokesman for the developer said: “The benefits of the development are considered to overwhelmingly outweigh any harm and therefore having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and all other relevant considerations should be approved without delay.”

The view is one that appears to be shared by Eastbourne Borough Council’s planning department, which is recommending approval subject to a legal agreement to secure affordable housing, on-site parking and off-site highways works.

An Eastbourne planning officer said: “It is considered the justification through the submission to the loss of the employment floor space is acceptable and the change of use to residential would likely improve amenities for the surrounding residential properties over a fully functioning commercial space.”

While recommended for approval some concerns have been raised by local residents around the impact on local infrastructure and parking. Despite these concerns only two formal objections have been raised by residents. 

The application states 28 of the apartments would be one bedroom with 29 units having two bedrooms and three three-bedroom flats.

It would provide 18 affordable homes, made up of 10 two-bed flats and eight one-bed flats.

The apartments would be spread across three buildings, containing a total of individual five blocks of flats. Two of the buildings would be two-storeys tall, while the third would be three-storeys tall.

For further information on the proposals see application reference 200742 on the Eastbourne Borough Council planning website.