Controversial proposals to build housing in place of garages are set to go in front of Eastbourne planners next week.
On Tuesday (August 20), Eastbourne Borough Council’s planning committee are due to consider proposals to replace a block of garages in Wadhurst Close with a house and six apartments.
During the same meeting, the committee is also due to consider a separate application to demolish a block of garages to the rear of Durham Court in Rockhurst Drive and build a terrace of four new homes in its place.
The applications are unconnected, other than both involving the demolition of garages.
Both schemes have proven to be controversial with neighbours, with objectors raising similar concerns around loss of parking and impact on highway safety. In all the council received 31 letters of objection in connection with the Wadhurst Close scheme and 43 in connection with the Durham Court scheme, although the objections to the latter relate to several different versions of the plans.
Similarly both schemes are being recommended for approval by council planning officers, who judge the benefits of additional housing to outweigh the downsides of either proposal.
In a report on the Durham Court scheme, a council planning spokesman said: “Overall, it is considered that the proposed development would not result in any harm of a significance that would outweigh the benefit of a net gain of four dwellings which would contribute towards the council’s housing delivery targets and address identified housing need within the Borough.”
Officers made a similar statement about the Wadhurst Close scheme.
For further information about the Wadhurst Close proposals see application reference 240035 on the Eastbourne Borough Council website. See application reference 240166 for the Durham Court scheme.
