Bexhill car dealership could be demolished to make way for homes

In an application submitted to Rother District Council, developers Devonshire Estates Ltd are seeking outline planning permission to demolish and redevelop the Bexhill Motoring Centre in Terminus Road.

Two previous applications to redevelop the site were refused last year, with the developer unsuccessfully appealing against both decisions with the planning inspectorate.

According to a planning statement submitted as part of the application, developers say the latest plans seek to address the concerns previously raised, by reducing the height of the building from three storeys to two.

In the planning statement, a spokesman for the developer said: “The application site is a brownfield site which is located within the settlement boundary of Bexhill-on-Sea and therefore a priority location for new housing development.

“The previous appeal schemes were only dismissed on the basis of the relationship to the road and height and scale. To overcome this issue, the apartment block has been reduced in height by a whole storey.

“It would now be viewed as a two-storey building, with the third floor set within the roof space. As such, the comments raised by the previous planning inspector have been overcome.”

If approved, developers say the building would contain 10 two-bedroom flats with on-site parking spaces.

The revised plans come after previous bids to develop the site were refused in January and November last year due to concerns the height and scale of the building would be harmful tot the character of the surrounding area.

Rother planners also refused the first application on the grounds it would harm the living conditions of neighbours and lead to the loss of employment land.

However, the planning inspector found these reasons to be insufficient for refusal when considered the appeal in July 2017.

Dismissing the first appeal, the planning inspector said: “The development would involve the provision of 14 dwellings and it would therefore make a useful contribution to the supply of housing in the area.

“There would therefore be some economic and social benefits arising from the development.

“However, I have found that the development would be harmful to the character and appearance of the area and I consider that this adverse impact would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the development’s benefits.”

A decision is due to be made on the scheme by December 28.

For further details about the plans see application reference RR/2018/2453/P on the Rother District Council planning website.

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