Plan to build St Leonards apartment building approved

In a decision notice published last month, a planning inspector has allowed an appeal connected with proposals to build three two-bedroom apartments on land in Harley Way — a cul-de-sac to the east of Harley Shute Road.

While Hastings Borough Council had granted outline planning permission for an apartment building on the site in 2018, officers opted to refuse a subsequent reserved matters application in 2023 due to concerns about the visual impact of its final design and prominent location in the road.

In a report at the time, a council planning spokesman said: “While the principle of residential development on this site has been established by the granting of outline consent, the development as proposed in this instance is not acceptable in that it would not protect or enhance the local character.”

Planning officers had also raised concerns about the development’s drainage plans, saying the developer had provided insufficient information.

Neither of these concerns were shared by the planning inspector, who judged there to be no substantial grounds for either reason for refusal.

In their decision notice, the inspector wrote: “I have found no basis to conclude that the layout, appearance, scale and landscaping of the appeal scheme that is before me would be harmful, bearing in mind the parameters set by the permitted parent permission.

“The proposal therefore accords with … the Hastings Development Management Plan 2015 and … the Hastings Planning Strategy 2014 which, amongst other things, require developments to protect and add to the local character.

“For similar reasons, the proposal would accord with the [National Planning Policy] Framework’s design objectives.”

As a result, the inspector opted to allow the appeal and grant planning permission for the scheme.

For further information see application reference HS/DS/21/00929 on the Hastings Borough Council website.