Hospital planning obligation changes at Mount View Street, Bexhill
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Rother Planning Committee on 4 Sept 2025.
What was proposed
The application sought to remove the £40,000 art and public realm contribution and allow highway works through a Minor Works Agreement.
“It is also proposed to make amendments to the highway work obligations within the Section 106 Agreement so that the NHS Trust would undertake essential highway access works via an MWA. The works to be secured by the MWA form part of the scope of the main Section 278 works for the wider housing scheme to be delivered by Vistry Homes Limited and it has been requested that works be carried out under an MWA ahead of the main Agreement being completed to avoid any delays in…”
“The application is made under Section 106A (modification and discharge of planning obligations) of the Town and County Planning Act 1990 (as amended) and seeks to modify the Section 106 Planning Obligation, to remove the art and public realm contribution of £40,000 to be paid towards the provision of public art and improvement of the public realm in Bexhill Town Centre and to vary the highway work obligations to include a Minor Works Agreement which would allow these…”
Officer report
The site
The site is former agricultural land on Bexhill’s urban fringe, where an inpatient mental health facility is under construction.
“The site is situated on the urban fringe of Bexhill to the north of Pebsham within the development boundary and comprises 4.09ha of former agricultural…”
Officer report
Earlier permissions
Earlier permissions covered a large mixed-use extension, housing and infrastructure, followed by permission for inpatient mental health facilities.
“RR/2022/1246/P Hybrid planning application seeking full permission for erection of an inpatient mental health facility, landscaping…”
Officer report
Why the changes were sought
Officers said the town-centre contribution was no longer necessary for the hospital, while early access works would avoid operational delays.
“It is noted that the Art and Public Realm Contribution within the obligation is for the provision of public art and improvement of the public realm in Bexhill Town Centre. This provision for Bexhill Town Centre is carried over from the financial contribution of £1,200 per dwelling in the planning obligation for RR/2015/1760/P, where the financial contribution towards the provision of public art and improvement of the public realm in Bexhill Town Centre was considered…”
“Accordingly given that the IMHF itself will result in benefits to the wider and local area, including the provision of public artwork at the “Gateway” to the new hospital with a budget of £40,000 (as agreed as part of Condition 42 imposed on RR/2022/1246/P), it is not considered necessary for a financial contribution of £40,000 to be paid towards the provision of public art and improvement of the public realm in Bexhill Town Centre.”
Officer report
The committee vote
Councillor Ganly moved approval, Councillor Stanger seconded it, and the motion was carried unanimously with eight votes in favour.
“Councillor Ganly moved the motion to APPROVE MODIFICATION OF THE SECTION 106 AGREEMENT to remove the art and public realm contribution and vary the highway work obligations, to include a minor works agreement delegated subject to completion of the deed of variation and this was seconded by Councillor Stanger.”
“The motion was declared CARRIED (8 for / unanimous).”
Minutes
The decision
The committee approved the Section 106 modification, subject to completion of the deed of variation.
“DECISION: APPROVE MODIFICATION OF THE SECTION 106 PLANNING OBLIGATION TO REMOVE THE ART AND PUBLIC REALM CONTRIBUTION AND VARY THE HIGHWAY WORK OBLIGATIONS TO INCLUDE A MINOR WORKS AGREEMENT DELEGATED SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OF DEED OF VARIATION.”
Minutes
Sources
- Rother Planning Committee minutes, 4 September 2025
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Rother's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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See the API →At the meeting
- Committee
- Rother Planning Committee
- Council
- Rother
- Date
- Thursday 4 September 2025
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Vote
- Unanimous
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- View application →
- All decisions
- Rother committee decisions →
This committee's year
12 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 2 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.