The Eastbourne Borough Council Planning Committee was scheduled to meet on 16 September 2025 to consider planning applications for land north of Pevensey Bay Road and for improvement works to the Eastbourne Bandstand. The committee was also scheduled to note the date of the next meeting.

Here's a breakdown of the key items from the agenda:

Land North of Pevensey Bay Road

The committee was scheduled to consider an outline planning application for the development of up to 250 dwellings on land north of Pevensey Bay Road. The application, submitted by Catesby Strategic Land Limited, included approval for access arrangements, with all other matters reserved. The planning officer, James Smith, recommended that the committee approve the application subject to conditions and a section 106 legal agreement.

The report pack noted that the site is a 22-hectare arable field outside the settlement boundary of Eastbourne, but contiguous with existing residential development. The majority of the site falls within Flood Zone 3.

The report pack stated that the proposed development would include:

• A new access point via a northern extension to the Martello Roundabout on the A259.
• A new bridge over Langney Sewer.
• Off-site highway works, including footway widening, new toucan crossings, and dropped kerb crossings.
• A development platform at 3.61 metres above ordnance datum to mitigate flood risk.

The report pack noted that several consultees had been notified, including ESCC Highways, the Lead Local Flood Authority, the Environment Agency, Wealden District Council, and Active Travel England.

An addendum to the agenda noted that since the publication of the report, additional letters of objection had been received, raising concerns about the capacity of the Langney Point sewage treatment works and the approach taken in applying the Sequential Test. The addendum also included an Agricultural Land Classification Assessment which concluded that the majority of the site area is grade 3b and, therefore, not regarded as Best and Most Versatile (BMV) agricultural land. The report pack recommended that a condition be added to any decision notice issued to require any development of the site to be phased to align with any necessary improvement works to be carried out on the sewage network prior to each phase of the development being occupied.

Eastbourne Bandstand, Grand Parade

The committee was scheduled to consider applications for planning permission and listed building consent for improvement and safety measure works to the Eastbourne Bandstand, submitted by Eastbourne Borough Council. The planning officer, Chloe Timm, recommended that the Head of Development Management be delegated to conclude consultations with Historic England and County Ecology, and, provided that no substantive objection is received, to grant planning permission and listed building consent subject to conditions.

The report pack stated that the proposals seek to address urgent structural concerns affecting the seating areas and associated shelters, enabling partial reopening of the venue for the 2026 season. The proposed development includes:

• Demolition of structurally unsafe elements.
• Reopening of seating areas at the Middle and Upper Parade levels.
• Relocation and reuse of historic features.
• Installation of new lighting to the lower promenade.
• Replacement of railings along the Grand Parade boundary.
• Reduction of hoarding and fencing within the site.

The report pack noted that the site is a Grade II listed structure within the Eastbourne Town Centre and Seafront Conservation Area.

An addendum to the agenda recommended that the application be deferred to a future planning committee meeting following receipt of comments from Historic England. The addendum also noted that since publication of the Officer Report, further representations had been received, raising concerns about the public consultation, alternative ways to preserve the seating structures, a lack of a conservation strategy, the accuracy of the significance of the heritage asset, a lack of justification for the works, a lack of exploration of alternative options, and a lack of proposals for reprovision of structures. The addendum also noted that representations had been received from the Meads Community Association and the Eastbourne Society.