Billingshurst shop to get extra storey with five new flats
Plans to add an extra storey of flats above a shop in Billingshurst have been approved by Horsham District Council.
The application from Brindle Investments Ltd, for 16 Jengers Mead, was given the nod by planning officers.
The work will see the ground-floor reconfigured – though the shop will remain – with one storey added to provide five self-contained flats. The three-bedroom flat on the first floor will also stay, taking the number of flats to six.
An almost identical application was approved by the council in 2016 but work never went ahead.
A report from planning officers said: “The proposed development is a renewal and modest refinement of a previously permitted development from 2016. This permission was not implemented and has now lapsed.
“The proposed development retains the fundamental design of the previously approved scheme. The small amendments improve the functionality of the commercial premises, the quality of the residential accommodation and overall feasibility of the development.”
The council received a handful of objections to the plans, including one from the Parish Council.
Concerns raised included the impact the increased height would have, the lack of adequate parking, over-development, and if the work would encourage other owners to build upwards over shops.
To view the application, log on topublic-access.horsham.gov.uk and search for DC/26/1301.