Flats to replace Burgess Hill warehouse

The application, for the Expresslube (UK) Ltd site, in Victoria Road, received unanimous support from Mid Sussex District Council’s planning committee on Thursday (August 30).

The 3.5-storey development will include an undercroft for 13 cars. While this falls slightly short of the number called for in the Burgess Hill Neighbourhood Plan, the meeting was told that planning officers did not think there would be a problem.

When it came to the look of the building, Pru Moore (Con, Burgess Hill – Leylands) mentioned that a  development further up the road was known locally as ‘Cell Block H’ because of the way it looked.

She asked planning officers for a clear picture showing the design of the front of the new flats, as the one shown to members was ‘not very well defined’.

When told that one was not available, she said: “So I’m going to be surprised when I go past.”

Recognising that the principle of the neighbourhood plan was to move the industrial site out of town, Mrs Moore added: “It is what it is. It’s in the neighbourhood plan and I see no reason to refuse it.”

The council received one objection to the plan, from the joint-owners of a neighbouring business, which raised concerns about noise, the impact the development would have on the structure of their building, residents being able to look into their meeting room and the potential loss of a private right of way on the land.

Burgess Hill Town Council also recommended that the application be refused.

The report stated that applicant Chris Roos, of Expresslube (UK) Ltd, had ‘indicated a willingness’ to make more than £70,000 of Section 106 infrastructure contributions.

The money has been earmarked for projects including: upgrading the changing facilities at Fairfield Recreation Ground, improving the play equipment in Woodpecker Crescent and improving the 5th Burgess Hill Scout hut.