Pevensey Bay pub to make way for apartments

On Thursday (February 27), Wealden District Council’s planning committee south approved proposals to demolish the Beach Tavern in Sea Road and build an eight-flat apartment building in its place.

The proposals followed on from an earlier application to redevelop the pub site, which was refused by planners in 2017. Developers took the decision to appeal, but it was not overturned due to the planning inspector’s concerns with its design.

Officers said the new proposals sought to address these earlier design concerns and were now considered to be acceptable.

Despite officer’s advice several committee members raised concerns with what developers had put forward.

Among those to raise concerns was Cllr Johanna Howell (Con, Frant and Wadhurst), who said: “I don’t like it. This is a little seaside town, it has its own little seaside quaintness and I just don’t think this is in-keeping. 

“I will go back to the words I use quite often; can do better and must do better.

“I’m not against what you are trying to do, I am against the design.”

She also raised concerns around the size of the building, while Cllr Neil Cleaver (Lib Dem, Hailsham North West) criticised the amount of parking proposed for the site. 

In light of her concerns, Cllr Howell proposed that the application was deferred, with officers seeking a new design from the developers.

This view was shared by Arlington councillor David Watts (Con), who said: “I don’t think it needs to have a lot doing to it. I think it needs some tweaking. 

“I think if there was a deferral, then it gives the opportunity for the developers to work with the planning department to come up with a better scheme which would be more suitable.

Other members of the committee felt differently, however, arguing that the proposed scheme was acceptable as it was.

Geoffrey Draper (Con, Chiddingly, East Hoathly & Waldron said: “Looking just very simplistically at this, thank goodness the first scheme failed in design. I think it was dreadful. [But] the second scheme, I have to say, I quite like.

“The danger of deferring in order to do some tweaks [is] we may end up with a dog’s dinner. I like what is being presented and I am sure a lot of work has been done by both the officers and the applicant in order to make it more acceptable. 

“Let us go with what is on the table. At least we know now what we are getting.”

Following further discussion the application was approved  with six votes in favour and four against.