Worthing hotel's future decided amid plans to house single homeless people

Controversial plans were lodged to house single homeless people at the Windsor House Hotel in Windsor Road.

Residents described Windsor House Hotel as the ‘wrong location for such a mass over-concentration’.

Worthing’s planning committee decided that the hotel should not be used as a house in multiple occupation (HMO) – but this was subject to an appeal.

After a significant delay, the Planning Inspectorate has now backed the planning committee’s decision.

A Worthing Borough Council spokesperson said: “In January 2023, the planning committee refused an application by housing and social care provider SDR Group to convert the former hotel in Windsor Road into shared living accommodation.

"The proposed plan included 44 bedrooms divided into five self-contained annexes, each with shared kitchen, dining and living spaces.

"SDR Group appealed against that decision to the Planning Inspectorate and in July this year a planning inspector heard evidence from the company, from residents and from Worthing Borough Council officers and councillors.”

During the hearing, SDR Group said that the building could be used to house up to 83 people, the council said.

The spokesperson added: “At the end of the hearing the inspector said he would take time to consider all of the evidence he had received before making his decision.

"The Planning Inspectorate has now announced that it has dismissed the appeal on the grounds that the proposed redevelopment would cause noise and disturbance that would damage the character of the area and negatively affect nearby residents.”

To read the full decision visit https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk and search for case number 3321896.

A ten-year contract worth £7.8million between SDR and Adur and Worthing councils was made last year to accommodate the councils’ homeless residents closer to Adur and Worthing, and to save the councils roughly £2.5million in bed and breakfast costs over the ten years.