Residents of Military Road have raised concerns on learning that an application has been submitted to Rother District Council (RDC) to develop land adjacent to The Globe Inn.
The planning application is for the change of use of a small strip of vacant land and the erection of a two-storey building comprising of a garage for a single car on the ground floor and an office on the first floor for a garden designer who lives locally.
Local residents have logged a number of complaints with RDC, with one activist typing out objections and distributing them in a pamphlet entitled: ‘Save your neighbourhood from greedy developers!’ Complaints range from the fact that the new building will be opposite the Grade II-listed Waterloo Terrace, and will adversely affect the distinct character of the street, through to the loss of several on-street parking spaces.
There is, though, a certain amount of confusion regarding the planning notice. While it is clear from the application that the first floor will house a ’design studio’, ie an office, RDC look to have incorrectly posted it up on its website and in local media as a ‘studio flat’, which would lead you to believe it is a habitable dwelling. The full application can be viewed here.
The plot of land was originally sold by East Sussex County Council, who had purchased it for a now defunct scheme to build a new road to connect with Bridge Place on the other side of the railway tracks. Rye News has reason to believe that RDC are about to do something similar with a piece of land they also own on Military Road on the north side of The Globe Inn. A long strip of land, also under the embankment of Rye Road, has recently been cleared and it is believed is being prepared to be sold for development.
