Pebsham homes to be approved?

Rother's planning committee will be asked by officers to approve proposals for a new, eight-home cul-de-sac to replace two bungalows with large gardens.

The plans have been opposed by residents who feel the scheme would be overdevelopment and set a dangerous precedent in the town.

They have been backed in their campaign by Rother councillor Charles Clark.

A previous proposal for the site by the same developers was rejected by Rother last year. An appeal was subsequently dismissed by a government inspector.

However, Rother's chief planning officer Frank Rallings, believes it would be difficult to reject the latest application as it appears to address the inspector's concerns.

He will tell members in his report: "In dismissing the appeal the inspector did not feel that the correct balance had been achieved between making the most efficient use of the site for resdential purposes and protecting the quality of the environment for local residents.

"Previously I had not seen this site as an obvious one for redevelopment but the two bungalows occupy substantially larger plots than any others in the immediate area and the planning inspector has clearly accepted the principle of redevelopment."

He adds: "The council previously sought to resist a more intensive development on this site but although the appeal was dismissed the argument relating to the principle of redevelopment of the site was not accepted by the inspector.

"I have to concede that the latest scheme would seem to address the inspector's objections and on this basis I am now minded to accept the scheme. I believe however that in order to maintain the lesser impact of this scheme it would be appropriate to withdraw 'permitted development rights' on a number of aspects including an extension of the bungalows to the rear of the site and any new windows on all dwellings."