Fury over plans to build houses

Developers from The Park Lane Group want to build eight homes on land on the eastern side of Hawthorn Road.

But people in the street and neighbouring roads have blasted the scheme.

Lynne Okines, of Hawthorn Road, said: "We are up in arms as there have been at least four landslides over the years here, as well as problems with flooding. Everyone is concerned that if this goes ahead it will adversely affect our properties."

She said existing houses, which were built in the late 1970s, already had cracks in their foundations because of the land.

Mrs Okines said: "The proposed houses will also be enormous, being twice the size of existing ones, and will overlook people's gardens.

"There are also badgers here which will be affected."

Developers were originally granted permission to build houses on the strip of land in 1979 but did not go ahead so applied to the council two years ago for a Certificate of Lawful Use to re-apply.

Laurence Hulkes, construction director for the Park Lane Group, said developers submitted the application last August and the borough council had yet to decide its fate.

He said: "The Park Lane Group has had to submit an appeal for non-determination to the Secretary of State as there is a deadline for us to do so."

He confirmed that developers already had permission to build houses on the site, which dated from the late 1970s.

Mr Hulkes added: "This application follows the successful one for eight units on the other part of the site, which was approved on March 9 last year.

"The design of the units has been modified to lower the impact of the development.

"We are mindful of the affects the development may have on local wildlife and as a consequence we employ the services of reputable consultants to advise us in this regard.

"Due to the local interest in the site this has also led us to have appropriate dialogue with both Natural England and the local constabulary with regards to wildlife protection and any licensed works that may be required."

Caroline Kelly, council spokesman, said: "This site is part of land which is allocated for residential development in the adopted Hastings Local Plan 2004.

"Although planning permission has been given for the land as far back as the 1970s, two applications from The Park Lane Group for eight houses have not yet been determined due to the need to obtain further information about matters including ecology, land stability, drainage and car parking.

"The developers have appealed to the planning inspectorate in respect of one of the applications in order to obtain a decision because we have not yet been able to determine it.

"The other application is still under consideration.

"We will continue to make sure residents are involved in the process and will maintain our dialogue with developers in order to resolve these matters."