Rother Pub Conversion Plans To Go Before Planners

Saturday, 8 August 2020 13:23

By Huw Oxburgh - Local Democracy Reporter

Proposals to convert a former Bexhill pub into an office and apartment building are set to go before Rother planners next week.

On Thursday (August 13), Rother District Council’s planning committee is set to consider proposals to convert the Sussex Hotel – a vacant pub and hotel in London Road – into 10 flats, with office space below.

The proposals would also include substantial extension, which would extend all three floors of the building and across a large part of the rear yard.

While the applicant argues the scheme would bring a vacant building back into use, planning officers are recommending the proposals should be refused as not enough has been done to show there is no interest in reopening the business under new management.

In a report to be considered by the committee, a Rother planning spokesman said:

“It is important that existing employment sites … are only released for other purposes where there is clear evidence to support this.

“This is to protect jobs, to support the local economy and social infrastructure and to retain facilities that support the town’s role as a destination for visitors.

“Clear justification against [planning policy] is required if the changes of use are to be permitted.

“The applicant has been advised what is needed but there has been no substantive response. The application, therefore, falls to be considered as it stands.

“The proposed changes of use are, therefore, considered to be unacceptable because there is inadequate evidence to justify loss of the existing uses.”

The pub, which closed its doors in June 2019, has been on the market in some form since February 2018. However, it has not been advertised as a pub for sale or rent since August last year, planning papers say.

As a result the applicant is not considered to have done enough to show there is no demand for a pub and hotel premises.

Planning officers say there is also insufficient proof that the premises are not financially viable.

In their scheme, the applicant would convert the top two storeys of the building into 10 one-bedroom, self-contained flats.

The ground floor, meanwhile, would be converted into commercial office space.

For further details of the proposals see application reference RR/2019/2289P on the Rother District Council planning website.

Huw Oxburgh - Local Democracy Reporter