Decision time for controversial flat block application

AN APPLICATION for a controversial development in a residential street should be refused, according to a report by a council officer.
The proposed development site on the corner of Grand Avenue and West ParadeThe proposed development site on the corner of Grand Avenue and West Parade
The proposed development site on the corner of Grand Avenue and West Parade

Roffey Homes’ proposed 11-storey flat block on the corner of Grand Avenue and West Parade has prompted more than 750 letters of objection from concerned local residents.

And council officer Peter Devonport appears to share those concerns.

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His report recommends the application be refused on the grounds the scale of the development would cause overshadowing of a neighbouring home’s garden and be detrimental to the living conditions of those north of the site.

It also said the scale and design of the development was ‘unduly assertive and bulky and out of character with the surrounding development and fails to achieve the high standard of design expected of a tall building’. Responding to Mr Devonport’s recommendations, critic of the development and chairman of the Worthing Society David Sumner said: “I’m very happy about that as we submitted a substantial document against the development. They are just building on the mistakes of the past.

“We want something Worthing can be proud of there and this development is not that.

“We will go into the meeting and support the officer’s recommendation.

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“The refusal has got to be very detailed to not give the developers wriggle room.”

The proposal consists of 36 flats in a single building, broadly L-shaped in footprint to follow the corner round into West Parade, with frontages in Grand Avenue and West Parade. The design breaks the building line in both streets.

It has a basement car park consisting of 26 spaces with eight more spaces on street level.

The planning meeting is taking place at Worthing Town Hall at 6.30pm on Wednesday.