By Huw Oxburgh, BBC-funded Local Democracy Reporter
Plans to create a major apartment complex in Eastbourne’s town centre have been approved.
Eastbourne Borough Council’s planning committee last night unanimously approved proposals to demolish the disused multi-storey car park in Junction Road and build 101 apartments.
Councillors praised the scheme, agreeing with officers that it would improve the area by making use of a disused brownfield site.
Cllr Candy Vaughan (Lib Dem) said: “Won’t it be lovely to actually come in on a train to Eastbourne and not see the derelict JCP car park?
“It looks great. There is going to be a gain of biodiversity with all the landscaping. There will be no coaches parking in front … because it’s going to be all redone. It is going to look fabulous, I think. It will look absolutely amazing.”
While it had been recommended for approval, the proposed development had attracted opposition from some neighbours, with concerns mostly parking spaces for future residents.
The development would include 60 unallocated parking spaces, five blue-badge spaces and 185 cycle parking spaces. Objectors argued this was insufficient.
Objectors also raised concerns about overlooking and loss of privacy from the scheme.
Officers had disagreed with these concerns in their report, concluding the scheme would have “no detrimental impacts to the occupiers that surround the site”.
The replacement building is likely to consist of 27 one-bedroom flats, 64 two-bedroom flats and ten three-bedroom flats.
All flats are expected to have access to a private balcony or terrace, as well as a landscaped communal area, which would surround the building.
For further information search for application reference 240415 on the Eastbourne Borough Council planning portal here.
:: Main image courtesy DHA Architecture Ltd
