A27 service station between Polegate and Lewes ordered to take down ‘overly elaborate’ canopy

A rural service station has been ordered to demolish its canopy after losing appeal proceedings.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

In a decision published earlier this month, a planning inspector has dismissed an appeal connected to a garage known as Selmeston Service Station on the A27

The business had been issued an enforcement notice by Wealden District Council, requiring it to remove a canopy from over its forecourt, which had been built without planning permission.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The business appealed against this notice, arguing the structure was acceptable, that the notice was too short and asked for unreasonable remedial measures.

Selmeston Service Station. Image via Google Maps.Selmeston Service Station. Image via Google Maps.
Selmeston Service Station. Image via Google Maps.

Part of this argument was that the canopy was a safety feature, lighting up the fuel pumps and giving shelter from the weather.

However, the inspector described the structure as being “contrived and overly elaborate” for this functional purpose, concluding that it harms the character and appearance of the conservation area.

As a result the appeal was dismissed.

They did, however, note that a similar, more functional, structure may be suitable for planning permission. 

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The inspector also disagreed with the argument that the notice was unreasonable, as all it required was the structure to be demolished and removed from the site. 

Despite this, the inspector noted that the canopy’s removal would likely be a complex process and, as such, the two months remaining on the notice may not provide enough time to comply. 

As a result, the inspector amended the notice to give the business four months to demolish the structure.