Man’s fight against ‘nightmare’ plan to build 9 homes in Burgess Hill

Paul Giles said developer IndigoScott’s plan to demolish Oaklands and Holford on Keymer Road and construct nine replacement dwellings would be overbearing on him, and would affect his parents, who are in their 80s and also live near the site.

Paul said: “It’s been a nightmare, it’s overbearing. All they’ve done in the new plan is take some windows away.

“With my mother having recently suffered two strokes, if this development were to go ahead, all the associated noise and disruption would surely devastate her, and her wellbeing is the biggest reason I am fighting this so hard, in order to persevere the way of life we are currently enjoying.”

An original plan was rejected after objections were made by the Oak Hall Residents’ Association, Burgess Hill South East Residents, South of Folders Lane Action Group and Burgess Hill Town Council.

The concerns are for overdevelopment, overlooking, loss of outlook, access and traffic hazards, car parking shortfall, air and water pollution, pressures placed on local infrastructure, land stability, trees, drainage and flooding.

An appeal was dismissed after an inspector deemed ‘the introduction of a three-storey form of development with habitable room windows on the upper floors overlooking adjoining land and buildings to be materially harmful to the amenities of the adjoining residents’.

But now windows have been removed from the plan Paul fears it may be given the go ahead.

IndigoScott have pledged to donate more than £110,000 to benefit the community as part of the proposal.

Contribute to the discussion at www.midsussex.gov.uk using planning reference 14/02816/FUL.