Plans to convert permanently closed Eastbourne shop into two flats refused
Plans to convert a disused shop in Eastbourne into two flats have been refused by the council.
The proposal, put forward by Ms Maria Baxter, sought to convert the commercial unit in 340 Seaside into two two-bedroom ground floor flats.
The address was formerly occupied by local business Sapphire Lights, but the shop is listed as permanently closed on Google.
Eastbourne Borough Council refused planning permission on Wednesday (October 28).
Planning officer Ella Rigluth wrote in her report that any benefit was ‘outweighed by the significant harm’ of the proposal.
She concluded: “The development would result in the unjustified loss of a ground floor commercial unit within a designated Local Shopping Centre, undermining the vitality and viability of the centre and conflicting with policies that seek to retain active commercial uses in such locations.
“Furthermore, the proposed flats would fail to provide an acceptable standard of accommodation for future occupiers due to the lack of adequate outlook from principal habitable rooms.
“In addition, the introduction of a more vulnerable residential use at ground floor level within Flood Zone 3 has not been demonstrated to be safe for its lifetime.”
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