The Eastbourne Borough Council Planning Committee met to consider planning applications in the Eastbourne area. Councillor Hugh Parker, Deputy Mayor and Chair of Planning Committee, was scheduled to chair the meeting. The committee was expected to discuss planning applications for Whinfell, 25 Upper Carlisle Road and Terminus Road.

Terminus Road

The committee was scheduled to discuss a planning application submitted by Eastbourne Borough Council for the erection of a gateway arch on Terminus Road, also known as Victoria Place.

The proposed arch was intended to mark the gateway to the pedestrian area within Victoria Place. According to the report pack, the proposal is part of wider development works:

The proposal is part of wider significant development works following the award of the Levelling Up Fund to deliver Phase 2b of the public realm works from Eastbourne Railway Station to the seafront.

The report noted the benefits of the scheme, including improvements to the public realm, fostering social interaction, enhancing the character of the area, improving visual amenity, and inviting inward investment.

The report pack stated that the proposed arch would have masonry plinths with metalwork above, and would be sympathetic in design and material to the surrounding area.

The addendum to the agenda noted that the proposed scheme required a revision to slightly widen the arch for technical reasons. It was recommended that the Head of Development Management be delegated to conclude revisions to widen the archway, and on the provision that no significant changes are proposed that would affect visual or residential amenity or highway safety, to grant planning permission subject to conditions.

East Sussex Highways raised no objections to the application, subject to conditions. These included that the gateway arch should have a minimum width of 4.5 metres, and that the gateway arch must meet minimum height requirements as part of the licensing process with East Sussex Highways.

Whinfell, 25 Upper Carlisle Road

The committee was scheduled to discuss a planning application for Whinfell, 25 Upper Carlisle Road. The application sought permission for the demolition of an existing one-bedroom annexe and the erection of a detached six-bedroom dwelling with associated parking.

The application was brought to the Planning Committee at the request of a Councillor Smart.

The report pack noted that the scheme had been amended during the application to reduce the bulk of the proposed dwelling and reduce the number of bedrooms from seven to six.

The report pack stated that the development would provide a good level of accommodation for future occupiers and that the design, scale and layout of the development is sympathetic towards neighbouring sites. It also noted that the development would contribute to the council's housing delivery.

The Meads Community Association raised concerns about overdevelopment, highway safety, parking, the character of the area, visual impact and the setting of an unwarranted precedent. The Eastbourne Society also raised concerns about over-development of the site.

The report pack noted that the applicant had submitted a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) which identified key ecological features and constraints, including the presence of habitats suitable for Great Crested Newts¹.

The addendum to the planning agenda noted that a consultation response from County Ecology had been received, raising a request for further information relating to details on the approach to Great Crested Newt Mitigation. It stated that the consultation would continue until resolved and agreed with the County Ecologist, and that the recommendation as outlined within the Officer Report did not require revision.

The addendum also noted that the applicant had engaged with NatureSpace regarding the District Licensing Scheme in relation to Great Crested Newts and that this would be concluded alongside the grant of permission.

The report pack recommended that the Head of Development Management be delegated to conclude consultation with the County Ecologist following receipt of further information as requested, and to agree any amendments and/or mitigation in relation to ecology, as required. It was also recommended that on the provision that no substantive objection is received following conclusion of consultation, planning permission be granted subject to conditions.

One of the conditions was that the dwellings be constructed and occupied as self-build or custom build housing as defined in the Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015² (as amended). The dwelling should be occupied by the self-builder for a minimum period of three years from the date of the completion certificate required under part a) above.