An appeal against a council’s refusal of plans for a five-storey building near a railway station has been thrown out. Bridgewater Investments Limited launched the appeal after Wealden District Council rejected its plans to build the apartment block on the car park adjoining Polegate railway station. The block would have been made up of 36 apartments on the upper floors and parking and servicing on the ground floor.
Wealden District Council rejected the plans because of the impact the “incongruous and harmful” development would have on the character of the area and the lack of affordable housing provision within the plans, which attracted much opposition. There were concerns about how the loss of the car park would affect businesses in the town and the possibility that the new block would exacerbate antisocial behaviour in the area. Polegate Town Council was one of the objectors to the scheme.
“It would be harmful to local business to approve this application,” Polegate Town Council clerk Jo Tricker said. “There were concerns that locating a housing building in the middle of a car park would create potential antisocial behaviour risks and pollution risks to residents in that property. “There were concerns over the potential to create a crime location where it didn’t exist currently.
” Another objector said the development would be an “absolute disaster” for Polegate. Lewis and Co Planning, on behalf of Bridgewater, said the development had been designed �.