Plans to demolish former Seaford care home

In an application to Lewes District Council, a developer is seeking permission to demolish Blatchington Court – a former residential care home in St Peters Road – and replace it with four three-bedroom bungalows.

The home formerly provided 20 care places for older people including those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, but closed its doors last year.  

In a design and access statement, a spokesman for the applicant said: “The proposal would redevelop the site with a net gain of four dwellings and would constitute the ‘effective use of land’.

“Providing a fewer number of dwellings on the site would constitute an ‘under-development’ and would not be an effective or efficient use of the land.

“Given the need for new housing and the national planning strategy which aims to deliver new housing in sustainable locations and to protect the countryside from development, it is important that urban land is used effectively. 

“The proposed dwellings would help meet the need for housing, likely being attractive to families or older persons. [Local planning policy] recognises the need for family homes and dwellings for older persons. The proposal would therefore help meet specific district housing needs.”

Three of the proposed bungalows would retain the same access (on to St Peters Road) as was used by the former care home. However, the fourth would have its own access, by extending an existing access off of Firle Road.

Each bungalow would have three bedrooms, two off-road parking spaces and a private garden area.

A spokesman for the applicant said: “The dwellings have been designed and orientated so that they fit comfortably on the site, with no adverse effect on the living conditions of the adjacent neighbours, through loss of privacy, overlooking and loss of light.

“To reinforce any privacy concerns … trees would be planted adjacent to the rear boundary of Plot Four.”

For further details of the application see reference LW/20/0848 on the Lewes District Council planning website.