Controversial proposals for a “garden grab” housing development that more than a hundred people objected to have been approved by planners.
On Tuesday (November 12), Eastbourne Borough Council’s planning committee granted permission to build three homes — made up of a four-bedroom house and two three-bedroom bungalows — in Old Camp Road.
While the scheme had been recommended for approval, it had seen significant opposition from local residents. The council received 104 letters of objection in connection with the application.
Some of the objectors concerns were summed up by ward councillor Peter Diplock (Lib Dem), who said: “Summerdown is an area of Old Town that has a genuinely unique character; wide roads and pavements, well-established street trees and a haven and a corridor for wildlife linking the downs with urban and semi-urban areas.”
He added: “I think approval of this application could result in an increased likelihood of further garden grab developments, which would cause a domino affect which risks changing the area out of all recognition.”
Objectors had also argued the scheme would be a significant overdevelopment of the site and put pressure on the local road network. They also pointed to the scheme’s similarities to earlier proposals to develop the site.
This earlier scheme, which included an additional bungalow, had been considered by the planning committee in 2022 and was slated for refusal due to councillor concerns around its impact on both the character of the area and local ecology. The scheme was not formally refused, however, as the applicant withdrew the application before the decision was issued.
Council planning officers had considered the revised scheme to be acceptable, however, arguing it would make good use of vacant land and provide “much-needed” housing.
This view was shared by the majority of the committee, who opted to delegate to officers approval to grant planning permission, subject to conditions.
Proposing approval, Cllr Candy Vaughn (Lib Dem) said: “This may be a difficult one, but when you have a look these two bungalows are bungalows. They are not huge houses that are going to be seen from the street scene, they are going to be hidden away by the larger house that is in front of it.
“Eastbourne needs homes. In Langney, we have had lovely green spaces taken and had loads of homes put on these green spaces. We are going to have to accept the fact that to be able to house everybody in Eastbourne there are going to have to be some difficult decisions made.
“I think this site is perfectly ideal for these three properties and would be warmly received by families who need these houses.”
While approved, the committee spent some time considering a deferral of the scheme due to an unresolved consultation with East Sussex County Council’s Ecology and
Landscape team. Officers said this matter could be resolved through their recommended conditions, however, a view which the majority of the committee ultimately shared.
The house would be built on an empty plot of land known as 17 Old Camp Road. The bungalows would be built on garden land to the rear of the house and a neighbouring property at 15 Old Camp Road.
All three properties would have off-road parking.
For further information see application reference 240153 on Eastbourne Borough Council’s planning website.
