Decision due on Peacehaven homeless accommodation scheme

On Wednesday (June 10), Lewes District Council’s planning committee is set to consider a retrospective planning application concerning the use of the former Fourways residential nursing home in Bramber Avenue as emergency homeless accommodation.

The retrospective application – which concerns the former nursing home’s conversion into 18 self-contained flats – follows on from a 2017 permission to convert the building into a 14-room House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) for the same purpose.

While the site has been in use for some time under this previous planning permission, the proposals have proven to be controversial with some neighbours, who argue the site is an overdevelopment which will have an unacceptable impact on the surrounding area.

Similar concerns have also been raised by Peacehaven Town Council. 

In a letter responding to the application, a Peacehaven Town Council spokesman said: “Although PTC recognises the need for this kind of facility, there is disappointment that this facility is being over developed and approved without consulting [the town council]. 

“There are already serious concerns regarding the sewerage system from Southern Water who have advised that Peacehaven’s current sewerage and waste water system cannot cope with the overdevelopment of Peacehaven.

“There is already an issue where sewerage is leaking into resident’s gardens in this area and along The Promenade. Pictures of this have been attached with objections.”

The council’s letter also raises concerns about “overcrowding” of the street and whether the facilities would provide residents with the “necessary support for day-to-day living in this establishment”.

The two-storey property has already been split into 18 self-contained, one-bedroom flats, all of which have en-suite shower bathrooms and kitchenette facilities. One of the flats is used as accommodation for an on-site manager.

There is a 24 hour staff presence and access via the front door is restricted by key pad.

According to the applicant, BNM Parkstone LLP, the changes from the 2017 application came as the result of concerns from Lewes District Council’s own housing team about the use of a shared kitchen space.

The four new rooms came from space previously occupied by this shared kitchen.

In application documents, a spokesman BNM Parkstone LLP said: “The studios that have been created are rented out on a short term basis under a referral system operated in conjunction with Lewes District Council’s housing team. 

“Residents are people who would be otherwise homeless, and rental levels are set in conjunction with Lewes District Council (which generally pays the rent on each studio). 

“Consequently it can be seen that the development plays an important role in housing a vulnerable section of society, and does so with a quality of accommodation that is supported by the local housing authority.”

This view is supported by Lewes District Council’s housing needs team, which argues there is a pressing need for such a facility.

An officer from the council’s housing team said: “In terms of need, we are always after temporary accommodation to use for the large number of households that present to us as homeless.

“As of today we have 35 households in B&B style accommodation waiting until something more suitable can be found.

“We were satisfied about the quality of the accommodation Fourways provided. They were proactive in working with our temporary accommodation team and have also worked closely with our Private Housing team.”

According to council officers, it is intended that the facility would be used exclusively to provide temporary accommodation for people who have been made homeless, strictly by referral from Lewes District and Brighton and Hove Councils. 

In a report recommending the proposals be approved, a council planning officer said: “This facility will provide a valuable and much needed service on behalf of the council by providing temporary, emergency accommodation for people who have become homeless. 

“It is recognised that some local residents have concerns about the impact on the area. The management plan, to be secured by condition will be designed to allay these concerns and to ensure a satisfactory level of accountability from the applicant. 

“On balance, it is considered that the proposal is acceptable.”

For further details of the proposal see application reference LW/19/0857 on the Lewes District Council planning website.

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