SUSSEX WORLD 18 MAY 2023 - CONVERSION OF EMPTY EASTBOURNE CARE HOME INTO HOUSE APPROVED AT APPEAL BY PLANNING INSPECTORATE

Plans to convert a former Eastbourne care home into a house have been approved at appeal.

In a decision notice published on Monday (May 15), a planning inspector has given the green light to convert Keller House, a vacant former care home in Carew Road, into a family home.

The inspector’s decision overturns Eastbourne Borough Council’s refusal of the conversion last year.

Planning officers had refused the conversion on the grounds that it would harm the character and appearance of the area, not make sufficient use of the site or provide enough livable space for future residents.

The inspector took a different view, however, concluding that the building being left empty (as it closed its doors in 2016) meant the harm to character of the area should have been weighed differently. They also said an alternative development, such as a flats conversion, would be likely to cause more harm than what was proposed.

In their decision notice, the inspector said: “As the building has been unoccupied for over five years, the building fabric is decaying. Without an active use the building’s condition will continue to decline.

“However, most of the character and appearance of the original dwelling has endured, and the proposed change in the use of the building back to a dwelling would sustain its positive contribution to the sense of place.”

They added: “The proposal would provide a good sized family home and garden within the reasonably accessible Upperton neighbourhood. The appellant is willing to invest in the deteriorating building now, and there are no other proposals for the building and/or its site before me.”

[Odd, that any council would object to a simple change of use. We wonder what possible motive, possibly another agenda, they may have had for acting so obstructively?]

CAROLINE ANSELL, MP FOR EASTBOURNE IN 2023

EASTBOURNE & LEWES COUNCILS

DISTRICT & BOROUGH COUNCILS

East Sussex has five District and Borough Councils, each with a border on the coast. From west to east they are: 

Eastbourne Borough Council

Hastings Borough Council

Lewes District Council 

Rother District Council 

Wealden District Council

There is also East Sussex County Council as the provider of services to the 5 East Sussex districts. Eastbourne declared a Climate Emergency in July of 2019.

STEPHEN LLOYD, MP FOR EASTBOURNE IN 2018

As near neighbours and with councils now sharing facilities and working together, these area of Sussex are included in our remit and an area where climate change and affordable housing are issues that need urgent attention. Where the coastline is a feature in every Council, Blue Growth is a food security issue, especially where this side of of our local economy is under-exploited.

LINKS

https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/politics/conversion-of-empty-eastbourne-care-home-into-house-approved-at-appeal-by-planning-inspector-4147212

https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/politics/conversion-of-empty-eastbourne-care-home-into-house-approved-at-appeal-by-planning-inspector-4147212

https://twitter.com/EastbourneBC

http://www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/

https://www.lgbce.org.uk/