Third bid to turm historic flour mill into homes

Citiscape Developments Ltd wants to create 12 apartments at The Flour Mill, Upper Horsebridge Road, Hailsham.

The flats would be on the first, second and third floors of the five-storey building.

The developer said the mill would be 'sensitively' refurbished for residential use.

In a planning statement, the company said: 'The site proposal gives full acknowledgement to the importance of the mill building as a key local landmark.

'Key historic features of the building will be restored and more recent inappropriate changes removed.'

New residents would get 12 car parking spaces, with four set aside for visitors.

Old industrial units on the mill land would become 10 new workshops with 36 parking spaces.

More than 50 retired people live in homes next door at Bakers Farm Park.

Resident Alan Cooper said noise from the planned workshops was a worry for some residents.

He said: 'We could have heavy machinery going on from 8 to 5 every day.

'We want to sit in our own homes and not have to go out because the noise is unbearable.'

Mr Cooper was also concerned about increased traffic on Upper Horsebridge Road.

He added: 'Traffic would affect our emergency gate for ambulances and fire engines.

'It is a very narrow, dangerous road and there is a sharp bend.

'When you cross the road you can't see the traffic.'

Fellow resident Jim Shropton backed the application.

He said: 'It is about time they got on with it.'

The River Cuckmere runs through the site where a water mill was first erected in the 1700s.

Fire destroyed the mill and a new building was built in the late 1800s.

Power for this mill was drawn in through the river directly underneath the building.

The mill stopped milling flour in 1969 and an iron waterwheel is all that remains of the original machinery.

It is the third time a planning application has been submitted to Wealden District Council.

Planning applications in 2005 and 2006 were rejected.

Concerns were raised about the mill structure and increased traffic.

A public consultation ended on June 4.

The developer proposes to keep the mill's waterwheel and install mill history information boards.

There would also be a financial contribution towards a new Upper Horsebridge road junction.