Bid to demolish pub and build flats

Developer McCarthy and Stone wants to build 66 flats for frail and elderly people as well as 22 affordable housing units.

This is the second application made by the developers. The first bid was made without the affordable homes.

The inquiry focused on three main issues: the loss of a food and drink outlet on the seafront; the size of the proposed building; and the suitability of the site for frail and elderly people and the strain on

health services.

Cllr Bob Allen, who sits on Seaford Town Council and Lewes District Council, attended the inquiry.

As well as the developers, there were other representatives from the town and district councils and members of the public.

Cllr Allen said: 'The principal issue in planning law was whether closing the Beachcomber would deprive the neighbourhood of a food and drink outlet. The council claimed that the seafront was a separate and distinct neighbourhood for visitors.

'McCarthy and Stone suggested that the seafront was just one street and was therefore part of the town as a whole.'

Cllr Allen said that when the size of the development was discussed, the town council believed it would be overbearing and would detract from the views of Seaford Head.

McCarthy and Stone, he said, claimed the architecture would be that befitting a seaside town and the height decreased as you went north along Dane Road while the seafront elevation was no more than already existed to the east.

Cllr Allen added: 'The developers maintained that it was a matter of personal judgement of the risks involved in living on this windy site. Regarding the health services, it was maintained that many of the residents would have lived in the area and would be receiving health care at the local hospital and surgeries.'

A detailed site visit took place as part of the inquiry and the inspector is due to make a decision at the end of the month.