Conversion plans for empty Seaford nursing home turned down

On Wednesday (July 1), Lewes District Council’s planning committee considered an application to convert Bybuckle Court in Marine Parade into six apartments. 

While the proposals had been recommended for approval (and had the support of several committee members), the application was refused due to concerns around some of the flats failing to meet national size standards.

According to planning papers, five of the six flats were considered to be marginally undersized; an issue officers felt was acceptably mitigated in some of the apartments through the inclusion of balconies and outside spaces.

Among those to raise concerns was Cllr Graham Amy (Lib Dem, Newhaven South), who said: “These regulations in some senses are the minimum standards and sadly, in my town, lots of terraced houses have been converted and they seem too small for two people or even four people.

“I’m still not happy with the fact that if it was a newbuild we would have to reach those standards, but because we have accepted that it is a conversion we are happy to have a lesser standard.”

Cllr Imogen Makepeace (Green, Lewes Priory), meanwhile, said: “I too am uncomfortable about the size. I think it is fine that we have smaller flats available for single people and people who are not families. 

“If these were what we might call affordable flats I might be more minded to acknowledge that they are useful.”

Other councillors felt differently however, arguing the scheme would provide “much-needed” housing.