An appeal against a council’s decision to reject plans to turn a derelict hotel into housing has been thrown out. The Planning Inspectorate has backed the decision of Worthing’s planning committee to not allow the former Windsor House Hotel to be used as a house in multiple occupation (HMO). In January 2023, the planning committee refused the application by housing and social care provider SDR Group to convert the former hotel in Windsor Road into shared living accommodation.
The proposed plan included 44 bedrooms divided into five self-contained annexes, each with shared kitchen, dining and living spaces. SDR Group appealed against the decision and, in July this year, a planning inspector heard evidence from the company, residents and Worthing Borough Council officers and councillors. During the hearing, SDR Group said that the building could be used to house up to 83 people.
Planning inspector Stewart Glassar dismissed SDR’s appeal on the grounds that the proposed redevelopment would cause noise and disturbance that would damage the character of the area and negatively affect nearby residents. “Concerns were expressed that aside from noise and disturbance, future acts of anti-social behaviour could arise in the area as a result of the proposal,” he said. “It was also evident from the hearing that a fear of crime is a concern locally.
It seemed to me that all these apprehensions rested not wholly on an extrapolation of past events in the area. There were assumpti.