New homes to bebuilt on site of Winchelsea pub

The Bridge Inn, at the Strand, in Winchelsea’s conservation area is currently derelict.

Permission for it to be changed from a pub to residential premises was granted in September last year but many local people hoped it could be retained as an inn.

The latest planning permission is for two three and four bedroomed detached premises with integral garages.

Following concerns from Icklesham Parish Council an unofficial bus stop at the pub will be retained the developers have promised.

An archaeological assessment revealed that the front part of the site sits above the remains of the medieval harbour of Winchelsea.

Winchelsea Conservation Society objected to the plans commenting that there was “a real possibility that the conservation area will be further degraded by a low quality design of the whole of the Bridge Inn site.”.

Concerns have also been raised about road safety and access to the busy A259.

The Society commented: “There is no consideration in the plans of the dangers facing pedestrians on the A259, where there is no defined pavement.”

The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England also criticised the plans saying the application represented over intensive development on the site.

But Rother planning chief Tim Hickling described the development as a “modest proposal”.

He said: “The proposed dwellings are of an appropriate design and scale which will not be out of keeping with the established character of the area or that of the conservation area.

“Their design and orientation with neighbouring properties mean they will not cause demonstrable harm to residential amenities.”