Five dwelling layout changes at Land at Church Street, Hastings

What was proposed

The application sought changes to the approved layout, parking, patios, pathways and refuse storage for five dwellings.

“AGENDA ITEM NO:4 (a) Report to: PLANNING COMMITTEE Date of Meeting: December 2025 Report from: Planning Services Manager Application address:Land at Church Street, Hastings Proposal:Variation of conditions: 2 (approved plans) and 3 (refuse storage details) of Permission HS/FA/21/00396 (Variation of Condition 2 (Approved plans & details) of Application HS/DS/17/00194 (Development of site to provide five dwellings) Amendment - Removal of shared garage and enlargement of…”

“Proposed development This application seeks permission to vary conditions: 2 (approved plans) and 3 (refuse storage details) of HS/FA/21/00396 (Variation of Condition 2 (Approved plans & details) of Application HS/DS/17/00194 (Development of site to provide five dwellings)).The reserved matters of application HS/DS/17/00194 were appearance, landscaping and scale. The amendments are as follows, ·Removal of shared garage and enlargement of open porches at Plots 2 and 3.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The irregular site lies beside an informally maintained single-track road in a predominantly residential area and slopes from north to south.

“Site and surrounding area The application site is an irregular area of land located to the east of Clifton Road and south of Greville Road. Church Street itself is an informally maintained, single-track road linking Clifton Road to Speckled Wood. A triangular section of the site is on the north side of Church Street, bounded to the north-west by Clifton Road and on the other side by the curtilage of 2 Greville Road.”

Officer report

Objections and concerns

Residents raised concerns about plot 5 parking, stability, access, wildlife, privacy, trees, earlier works, enforcement and ownership.

“Arboricultural Officer - No Objection Ecology Officer- No Objection Senior Sustainable Urban Drainage and Flood Risk Officer - No Objection 4. Representations In respect of this application 4 site notices were displayed in and around the site. In response to this 6 letters of objection from 3 different households and one letter of comment were received along with a petition of objection containing 23 signatures from 16 different households.”

“Parcel of land has previously been used by the community ·Access for Greville Road residents over the site ·Incorrect ownership certificate signed ·Incorrect timescale imposed on outline consent ·Possible changes to red line site boundary ·Query regarding when works started on site ·New planning application for whole development should be submitted ·Inaccurate topographical information in respect of parking for plot 5 resulting in an unstable land mass at adjacent property…”

Officer report

Who spoke

The Lead Petitioner objected to the plot 5 parking space but said they did not oppose the overall scheme.

The vote

Councillor Beaver proposed approval, Councillor Collins seconded it, and the Chair put the proposal to a committee vote.

“Councillor Beaver expressed concern about the proposal and acknowledged the serious impact the decision could have on the Lead Petitioner and their family. He was frustrated that planning law left no flexibility to resolve the issue and the legal advisor had confirmed there was no way to add a condition to address the matter.”

“With approval of the application having been proposed by Councillor Beaver, seconded by Councillor Collins, the Chair called upon the Committee to vote whereupon it was…”

Minutes

Additional advice

The applicant was strongly encouraged to work with residents of 8 Greville Road towards a possible rear pedestrian access solution.

“The applicant is strongly encouraged to approach the residents of 8 Greville Road to work towards a possible solution to enable rear pedestrian access.”

Minutes