Latest plans for ‘eyesore’ Storrington building refused

The application for the small building in School Hill was turned down during a meeting of the planning committee where leader Ray Dawe described it as being ‘the wrong thing in the wrong place – and we don’t like the design’.

The council received eight letters of objection to the application and an objection from Storrington and Sullington Parish Council.

Concerns raised included the impact on the Conservation Area, the lack of space for loading and unloading stock, and the potential for noise and disturbance to neighbouring homes.

Three applications to either demolish or convert the building – which was described as an old school building – have been refused by the council since 2007.

Mr Dawe told the meeting he found this latest one ‘odd’, adding: “It does rather unfortunately smack of ‘well we’ve failed on that one so let’s try another angle to get something done’.”

Not everyone agreed.

John Blackall (Con, West Chiltington, Thakeham and Ashington) said he thought the building was an ‘absolute eyesore’, adding: “Anything that tidies it up I think will be an improvement on what we’ve got at the moment.”

Despite the recommendation from planning officers to approve, the committee refused the application by 14 votes to six on the grounds of its appearance and the harm it would cause to the Conservation Area.

To view the application, log on to www.horsham.gov.uk/planning and search for DC/20/2519.