Appeal to overturn George planning decision

Monday, January 15 is an important day for Alex and Katie Clarke, owners of the George Hotel in Rye. Having had their retrospective planning application refused over the colour change for the external elevations of the George when it was redecorated in 2021, their only option was to lodge an appeal against the planning decision.

Having been alerted to the Save our Colour campaign I felt Rye News readers should be made aware of the significance and importance of this campaign and have the opportunity to add their support.

If you wish to show your support by either a comment or letter you need to register with the Planning Inspectorate no later than next Monday, January 15 using the following email address: East2@planninginspectorate.gov.uk and include the following planning references APP/U1430/W/23/3324343 and APP/U1430/Y/23/3324344.

Many of us remember how scaffolding engulfed the hotel during the rebuilding process and the disruption caused to shoppers, traders and vehicle movements. If it were to be repainted this would, of course, involve scaffolding, with the work being carried out during the summer months, which would impact greatly on the town once more. The costs, including planning fees, are estimated to be around £100,000 which would add significant financial pressure to a business recovering not only from the aftermath of the fire but also the effects of the Covid pandemic.

The existing colour has been referenced to a colour which the hotel was previously painted and during the nineteenth century it was also painted in a variety of colours, including the light brown palette you see today. Only last year, following completion of the refurbishment, the hotel was awarded the Sussex Heritage award (commercial category) a significant award which would not have been made had the panel felt that the new colour had been considered inappropriate to the town's historic townscape.

The George is not only one of the town's main employers, it also attracts a significant number of visitors to Rye, many of whom will use local shops, bars, cafes and facilities. The owners are now in a difficult position for the sake of a paint colour which they were encouraged to use by the same authority who rejected their planning application. Their hope is that the Planning Inspectorate will overturn the planning refusal.

Unusually, the conservation officer at the time of the planning proposal was also the planning case officer for this project and confirmed his support by email to the owners and on that basis, they went ahead. Waiting for an official acceptance would have taken months but the building was deteriorating and needed to be rebuilt and reopened without any unnecessary delays.

With the planning officer leaving his position and the colour scheme uploaded to the planning portal, Rye Conservation Society, as consultees for Rother, wrote to RDC accusing them of not following due process by failing to give them sufficient time to consider the colour scheme.

The Clarkes were advised to remove the external paint colour from their application if they wanted approval, this they did and then applied for retrospective approval which was refused.

They are now in a very difficult position and need your help. By lobbying the Planning Inspectorate using the details above you can register your views. To help you with the background to this appeal the links at the bottom of this article give you more detailed information.

Anyone can take part, you don't have to be local or affiliated to Rye, however the clock is ticking, and Monday, January 15 is the last opportunity for you to show your support.