Flats refused - for now

A TEMPORARY victory was won this week against developers wanting to turn Worthing into a town filled with flats.
By The Newsroom
Published 6th Nov 2003, 16:34 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 01:02 BST

Six applications '“ a total of 82 flats '“ came before Worthing's planning committee on Tuesday. They were for Charmandean Road, the Rivoli pub, Madeira Avenue, Pembury Road, Grand Avenue and St Matthew's Road.

Only 33 flats were given the go-ahead, 49 were not. As well as a 21-flat development in Charmandean Road, Broadwater, planning councillors also threw out a proposed development in Pembury Road, Worthing, to demolish a house and put six flats in its place.

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Council officers had recommended the development should get the go-ahead but 30 letters of objection from local residents helped swing things.

Joy Hurcombe, a Pembury Road resident, said yesterday: "We are absolutely delighted that the application for demolition of a property in Pembury Road was thrown out. We are delighted that the prospect of quiet space being permanently ruined has now been lifted."

The biggest development '“ 24 one and two-bedroom flats on the site of the Rivoli pub, Chapel Road '“ was given the green light, providing the developers pay financial contributions and stick to a list of 27 conditions.

Plans to convert 31 Madeira Avenue, Worthing, a late Victorian villa, into six flats were given permission, despite 35 letters of objection from local residents.

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Objectors to the demolition of four houses in Grand Avenue, Worthing, and 22 flats to be built on the site made 80 separate comments as to why the development should not go ahead.

The councillors gave them their wish and rejected the application. The conversion of a house in St Matthew's Road, Worthing, into three flats was granted.

At the meeting, James Appleton, planning officer, said: "There's a need within the town for small more affordable accommodation and there are provisions to protect family dwellings within certain parts of the town, such as conservation areas. But, outside of those areas, there is clearly no objection on a planning basis for flats and additional accommodation.

"There is no objection in principal to provide flats on sites of family dwelling. There is a demand for smaller units."

But he added: "Clearly, if a particular proposal is unacceptable, then it should be refused."