Three homes at Police Station, Crowborough

What was proposed

The scheme would convert the former police station into one home and build two detached homes, with access, parking and gardens retained or provided.

“Application WD/2025/1433/F Report to: Minors Planning Committee Date: January 2026 Site address: POLICE STATION, CROWBOROUGH HILL, CROWBOROUGH, TN6 2DA Proposal: DEMOLITION OF THE EXISTING SINGLE STOREY SIDE EXTENSION AND CONVERSION OF THE FORMER POLICE STATION BUILDING INTO A 4 BEDROOM DWELLING, THE ERECTION OF 1NO. BEDROOM DETACHED DWELLING AND 1NO.”

“Executive Summary This application relates to the site of the former Crowborough Police Station on the northern side of Crowborough Hill. The site hosts the vacant Police Station building and a block of garages to its rear, alongside an area of scrubland in its north-eastern corner.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site contains a vacant police station, garages and scrubland within Crowborough’s development boundary, surrounded mainly by established residential development.

“Site and Surroundings This application relates to the site of the former Crowborough Police Station on the northern side of Crowborough Hill. The site hosts the vacant Police Station building and a block of garages to its rear, alongside an area of scrubland in its north-eastern corner. Vehicular access is achieved via an existing crossover on North Beeches Road, which opens into a small car park positioned between the Police Station and the garaging.”

Officer report

Earlier proposals and changes

A 2022 office conversion application was withdrawn, pre-application advice supported residential conversion and a second consultation followed amendments to Plot 3.

“Relevant Planning History It is noted an application was submitted in 2022 under reference WD/2022/2997/F for the demolition of the Police Station’s modern side extensions and its conversion to offices, including the erection of a two storey side extension. This application was withdrawn following concerns raised by Officers.”

“Concerns were raised regarding the provision of Plot 3 in terms of its backland location, potential amenity impacts and its scale in relation to the space available to it. Only a block plan was submitted at the pre-application advice stage but it is clear limited alteration was made at the point of the current planning application’s submission, although amendments have subsequently been secured by Officers during the course of the application.”

Officer report

Consultation and objections

The town council and highways authority raised no objections, while the heritage officer objected and eleven letters raised amenity, traffic, parking, ecology, design and other concerns.

“ESCC Highways – No objection • Directed Officers to ESCC’s minor application guidance. Second Consultation Crowborough Town Council – No objection • Comments made regarding positive design. Non-Statutory Consultees Heritage Officer – Objection • Concerns raised regarding the status of the Police Station as an NDHA and the impacts of the conversion and additional units on the significance of the building and its setting.”

“Two additional letters of objection were received and the following material planning issues were raised: • Impacts on amenity • Overdevelopment of site/out of character with area • Inappropriate scale • Construction traffic/pollution impacts • Ecology concerns…”

Officer report

Who spoke

A neighbour spoke against the application, the agent spoke in favour, and the local ward member’s statement was read aloud.

The committee’s concerns

The committee focused on Plot 3’s scale, location, fenestration, privacy, overshadowing, loss of light and effect on the area’s character.

“The proposed development – by reason of the scale, location and fenestration pattern of Plot 3 – would result in an unacceptable impact on the privacy of neighbouring residents at No 1 and 2 Peelers Cottages and Ridgeway, whilst also resulting in overshadowing and loss of light to the rear garden of No 6 North Beeches Road.”

“The proposed development – by reason of the scale, location and proximity of Plot 3 to the site boundaries – would result in a cramped form of development that would be harmful to the character of the area. The application is therefore contrary to Saved Policy EN27 of the Wealden Local Plan 1998; spatial planning objective SPO13 of the Wealden Core Strategy 2013; and paragraphs 129(d), 129(e), 135(a) and 135(b) of the National Planning Policy Framework.”

Minutes

The vote and decision

Five councillors voted to refuse, four abstained, and the committee refused permission for privacy, light, amenity and cramped-development reasons.

“Councillors Wilson (Chair), Benton, Clark, Hulbert and S Shing voted to refuse the application contrary to Officer recommendation.”

“That full planning permission be refused for the following reasons:”

Minutes