Highway Authority objects to Bexhill hotel plan

Developers have applied for planning permission to demolish 10-12 Egerton Road and replace the houses with a five storey hotel, boasting more than 70 bedrooms.

The plans have not been well-received by neighbours, who say the hotel is too big for a residential area and will exacerbate parking problems in the surrounding streets.

Now residents’ fears have been backed by the East Sussex County Council (ESCC) Highway Authority, which is recommending that planning permission is not granted for the development.

Ben Lenton, director of communities, economy and transport on behalf of the ESCC Highway Authority, has laid out the objections in a letter to Rother District Council’s planning department.

ESCC’s guidelines recommend that hotels require one parking space per bedroom, one space per resident staff and one space per two non-residential staff.

Under the guidelines the hotel would also need 50 sqm of usable space for loading.

The Highway Authority says that at least 72 spaces would be required for guests, plus additional spaces depending on the number of staff employed.

Mr Lenton said: “The submitted transport assessment indicates that the parking demands generated by the hotel would be accommodated within public car parks in the area and on the surrounding streets; however no evidence has been submitted to conclude that the extra parking could be accommodated in these areas.”

He said there was pressure on parking in the area during weekdays, with parking in the evenings and weekends ‘likely to be even more limited’. He added: “This could therefore lead to inappropriate parking which would be detrimental to road safety.”

Mr Lenton also expressed fears over the lack of a drop-off area for taxis, and branded a proposed service area ‘too restrictive’, suggesting refuse vehicles would choose to park on the street, causing an obstruction. He concluded: “I recommend that the proposal be refused due to the lack of on-site parking provided.”

View the full report on the Rother District Council website.

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