Council throws out Collington flats plan

More than one hundred people wrote to the local authority to object to the proposal to demolish The Lodge, a thatched cottage on Collington Rise, at the junction with Pinewoods, and replace it with six flats and parking spaces.

Objectors argued the proposals would cause parking and traffic problems in the area, have an adverse impact on local wildlife and that the proposed building was out of keeping with the surrounding area.

And members of Rother’s planning committee agreed with the objectors, refusing to grant outline planning permission for the scheme.

Outlining their reasons for refusing the plans, RDC said: “The proposed building by way of its height, scale, massing and indicative position close to the front boundaries of the site would result in a cramped and unduly prominent development at the junction of Pinewoods and Collington Rise set significantly forward of the prevailing building line and detracting from the spacious and green character of the area.

“As such a building of this scale would be an over-development of the site that would fail to respect the character and appearance of the locality.”

It added that it did not believe the proposed building could be sufficiently moved back within the site to overcome this objection without causing “unacceptable harm” to residents living in Pinewoods Court.

If the building was moved back, these occupiers would suffer “undue overlooking and loss of light”.

The application was thrown out at a meeting of Rother District Council’s planning committee last Thursday (January 21).