Medical centre at The Hindlands, Lower Willingdon

What was proposed

The application sought approval for the medical centre’s appearance, landscaping, layout and scale, with associated parking and landscaping.

“Application WD/2025/2191/MRM Report to: Majors Planning Committee Date: October 2025 Site address: THE HINDLANDS, EASTBOURNE ROAD, LOWER WILLINGDON, BN20 9NU Proposal: APPROVAL OF RESERVED MATTERS (APPEARANCE, LANDSCAPING, LAYOUT, AND SCALE FOR A NEW MEDICAL CENTRE WITH ASSOCIATED PARKING AND LANDSCAPING) PURSUANT TO OUTLINE PERMISSION WD/2021/0594/MEA (FOR DEMOLITION OF EXISTING VACANT DWELLING AND ERECTION OF UP TO 180 NO.”

Officer report

The site and setting

The proposal was for a three-storey medical centre, with parking to the east and soft landscaping over the rest of the site.

“The proposed medical centre along with the associated infrastructure and landscaping will deliver a scheme that is in full accordance with the above design objectives The proposed medical centre is a three-storey building, generally rectangular in form, aligned with Eastbourne Road along the lower, south- western section of the site. The building will be aligned north-west to south-east as can be seen in the site plan below.”

“The car park serving the new building is located to the east of the building, occupying around 50% of the site area. A substation is located in the north corner of the site. The remainder of the site will be soft landscaping. Materials The proposed materials are walls in red multi facing brick and feature panels of knapped chalk flint between the windows.”

Officer report

Planning history

Outline permission for up to 180 homes and a medical centre was allowed on appeal in 2022, and the residential development is under construction.

“Proposal Outline planning permission for the demolition of the existing vacant dwelling and erection of up to 180 no. dwellings and medical centre together with all parking, servicing and on-site open space was allowed on appeal on 11 October 2022. All matters were reserved except for access. This reserved matters application is seeking approval for the layout, scale, appearance and landscaping of the medical centre pursuant to the outline planning permission.”

“Relevant Planning History • WD/2020/6514/SCO - Request for scoping opinion for mixed-use urban extension development comprising up to 180 residential properties and a medical centre 8 February 2021. • WD/2021/0594/MEA - Outline application with all matters reserved except for access (excluding internal estate roads beyond the access to serve the medical centre plot) for demolition of existing vacant dwelling and erection of up to 180 no.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval subject to amended plans and no new material objections that could not be dealt with by conditions.

“Recommendation Subject to: • The submission of amended plans to address concerns regarding the infill panels between windows, the blandness of the north-west elevation, the pharmacy bin store and seating areas; and • No new material planning objections being raised by the remaining consultees and press advert that cannot be addressed through the conditions. Reserved Matters BE APPROVED, subject to conditions.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Highways, environmental health, police and the fire service raised no objections, while the parish council supported the application and suggested changes.

“Consultation Responses The following consultation responses and representations have been received. These responses are summarised. Full versions of the consultation responses and representations are available on the case file available on the Council’s website (link above). Statutory Consultees Highway Authority - No objection ESCC Highways first consultation response raised no objection in principle but requested additional information as set out below:”

“East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service - No objection • The Developer is required to ensure there is sufficient water for firefighting in accordance with the Water UK National Guidance Document. This is usually achieved by the provision of Fire Hydrant(s) attached to a suitable water main. Willingdon & Jevington Parish Council - Support application. Raised following points: • Could parking for the blue badge holders be placed nearer the medical centre doors.”

Officer report

Public representations

No third-party representations had been received when the report was prepared, although the consultation period had not fully ended.

“Will there be flexible opening hours. Representations At the time of drafting this committee report on the 9 October 2025, the expiry date for statutory consultees and representations from the site notices is the 14 October 2025. Any representations that have been received since this report was written, will be provided to Members in a written update before Planning Committee.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A lead designer and a medical centre representative spoke in favour of the application, while the local ward member spoke without voting.

The committee’s decision

The committee approved the reserved matters subject to an amended layout addressing the pharmacy bin store and seating areas, conditions and informatives.

“The submission of amended layout plan to address concerns regarding the location of the pharmacy bin store and seating areas; and…”

“Reserved Matters be approved, subject to conditions and informatives outlined in the agenda report and Officer update.”

Minutes