Some people living near a site where a Royal Mail depot could replace derelict farm buildings felt the planning system was biased against them, according to a leading councillor. Conservative leader Alistair McNair made the claim at a Brighton and Hove City Council meeting at Hove Town Hall on Thursday. He asked why the Royal Mail planning application for Patcham Court Farm, in Vale Road, was not discussed at a special planning committee meeting as had happened with some other major schemes.
Cllr McNair, who represents Patcham and Hollingbury which includes Patcham Court Farm, contrasted the approach with how the committee dealt with the Brighton gasworks planning application in the Labour-held Whitehawk and Marina ward. The Patcham Court Farm scheme was one of several applications decided by the committee last month but, in May, it held an extra meeting to discuss the gasworks scheme. It was the only item on the agenda for that meeting.
Read More: Residents furious over approval of controversial Royal Mail depot plans In the past, this has happened for a few big schemes such as the £485 million modernisation of the Royal Sussex County Hospital, which was approved at a standalone meeting in 2012. Labour councillor Liz Loughran, who chairs the planning committee, said: “Councillor McNair, I assure you there was no bias coming from the committee. “I am aware it was a highly emotive application in terms of the representations made by various people.
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