Councillors have said that they would have refused plans for 41 retirement flats in Hassocks if they had had the chance.
At a meeting of Mid Sussex District Council’s Planning Committee on yesterday (Thursday 13 June), members discussed the application for 68 and 70 Keymer Road.
Churchill Retirement Living submitted its planning application to the council last December but has lodged an appeal, saying that a decision had not been made within the required time.
A public inquiry is due to be held on Tuesday 10 September and, to allow officials to prepare a case for the planning inspector, the committee was asked to say how it would have determined the application.
The plans included 27 one-bed flats and 14 two-bed flats in a building described as up to two and a half storeys high.
They also included a mobility scooter store and 18 parking spaces, some of them with EV charging points and the rest having the potential to be hooked up for EV charging at a later date.
The council received 21 letters of objection, with concerns including the height and size of the building, the “inadequate” number of parking spaces and loss of sunlight to neighbouring homes.
Planning officials recommended refusing the application on the grounds that it was over-development and would harm the character and appearance of the area.
They also said that the building would adversely affect the privacy of neighbours to the rear, while the parking area and mobility scooter store would affect a neighbour’s garden.
While recognising the need for more than 800 flats or houses for older people in the district, officials said that the harm that the scheme would cause would outweigh any benefits.
As for why the application had not been brought to the committee sooner, members were told that a lot of time was spent working on amendments.
Those amendments had to be advertised and, before that time was up, the appeal was lodged.
Planning officer Steve Ashdown said: “We didn’t actually have the opportunity to bring it before members.”
To view the application, visit the council’s planning portal at pa.midsussex.gov.uk and search for DM/23/3114.
