People divided by plans to convert Seaford pub into 'concrete jungle' of eight properties and a shop

Residents on Alfriston Road received letters from Lewes District Council this week, outlining proposals sent to them by developers, to convert the former Seven Sisters pub building.

The plans outline the conversion of the existing building to provide a convenience store to the ground floor, alongside four maisonettes and four dwelling houses within the grounds.

The proposals, submitted by Michael Trentham Architects, also include room for 23 parking spaces – twelve for the store itself, eight for the dwellings and three guest spaces.

Commenting on the plans on the Seaford Facebook Notice Board, one person said: “Oh dear, I get that some people like ultra modern look designs, but personally I don't think the proposed houses could look any uglier or less 'in-keeping' if they tried.”

Another was also opposed to the plans, saying: “What a shame. I would have thought it was a listed building. Seaford will be a concrete jungle soon.”

One commented : "No thought given to the pressures put on services that affect us all, just keep building and building, converting and converting, how boring something different would be nice, far far to much housing being chucked in everywhere by selfish greedy developers.”

Charlotte Copping, landlady of the Seven Sisters, sold the pub to developers in January after years of battling to keep the 1930s establishment open.

In May, plans for a Cooperative store with additional houses and flats above the pub space were withdrawn, after reported issues with the main drainage systems on the site.

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Some commenting on Facebook were more upbeat about the plans, with one person writing: “The housing is needed. Better on these sort of sites than building on green fields. I would rather Seaford was a “concrete jungle” (which it won’t be) than build ever further out onto the downs.”

Another said: “I'd rather see this happen to it, if it is never going to be a pub again, rather than it being bulldozed and a block of flats going up.”

In the letter written to local residents, the council said any comments on the plans should be submitted to them by November 18.