2 weeks Ago
Plans to replace a bungalow with five flats and a family house have provoked fury. A revised planning application has been submitted to demolish a bungalow and replace it with five flats and a family house on Cooden Drive, Bexhill. The new application, which is an alteration of a previously accepted plan, has been met with strong objections from Bexhill Town Council and nearby residents.
The previous application, which was granted on appeal in December 2022, allowed for the demolition of the bungalow and garage to be replaced with four flats and a family dwelling, with parking for nine cars. A drawing of the proposed new buildings on the corner plot (Image: Clarion Chartered Surveyors) The new proposal increases the development by one additional flat, with the applicants stating it would provide "much needed housing to the general public in an existing residential area." The site, which covers approximately 1,377 square meters at the corner of Cooden Drive and Pages Avenue, is described by the applicants as being large enough to accommodate the increased number of residences while still providing sufficient space for parking and private gardens.
The proposal would include five flats and a family house (Image: Clarion Chartered Surveyors) The planning application states: "The site is large and capable of housing a far larger ‘footprint’ than had previously been present on the land, while still allowing sufficient space for appropriate amounts of parking and private gardens." However, the revised proposal has been met with significant discontent. READ NEXT: New Ikea store takes step forward as latest plans receive approval Bexhill Town Council has objected, stating: "The town council objects on the grounds that it does not comply with the conditions set out in the previous appeal decision.
"The appeal was allowed strictly in accordance with the approved drawings referenced in the appeal decision notice. "However, the new drawings introduce significant changes, including the addition of an extra flat." The bungalow has already been demolished (Image: Google) Objections have been lodged.
One person stated: "We have been engaged in this planning dispute for nearly five years now and it has already blighted our lives with the continuing lodging of unsuitable applications for the erection of flats. "We would have no objections to having two or maybe three houses being built on the site but do strongly object to the construction of flats, which are out of character for the immediate area." The plans have not proven popular with neighbours (Image: Clarion Chartered Surveyors) READ NEXT: Football stadium revamp to go ahead Another objector described the proposed block of five flats as "too large and imposing" and "overly dominant," stating it is "substantially larger than our neighbouring property and will be overbearing.
" Another objector expressed concern that the development would "set a precedent for future applications," adding "I do not want to live next door to a block of flats." Another person simply stated: "Yet more flats. This will ruin the look of the road.
" "It will be an eyesore on the road", added another..
