Experts blast medical centre design

The influential body says the building would have a 'detrimental impact on the special character' of the Bexhill Town Centre Conservation Area and has recommended planning permission be refused in its current form.

The application is for a five-storey building with parking for 40 cars in the basement, a state-of-the art medical centre on the ground, first and second floors and 30 sheltered flats on the remaining levels. The Grand was torched by arsonists in February last year and has since been partly demolished.

The new building would replace current surgeries at Albert Road and Sea Road.

But English Heritage says the proposed design is too big and the materials, roof, windows and lack of design details are 'out-of keeping' with the area. Bexhill Old Town Preservation Society agrees and also questions whether 40 parking spaces is enough.

In a statement to Rother's planning committee, which was due to discuss the application yesterday, English Heritage says: "The general context of development (in Sea Road) is three storeys, although the Grand Hotel did rise to four storeys. However the fourth storey was in the roof and read much more as an attic.

"The proposal for two additional storeys in the redevelopment, the upper most in the form of a crude mansard, inflates the height of the building to the detriment of its neighbours."

It goes on to describe the design as 'confused', 'monolithic' and 'repetitive.'

Rother councillors were themselves dubious about the design when they considered the application last month. Then they deferred their decision pending consultation and they were recommended to do the same yesterday.

The council is also considering whether or not it is appropriate to insist that a percentage of the flats be 'affordable housing' and if so, how many.