The Ranch 12 Mill Gap Road Eastbourne East Sussex BN21 2JE

1. 1.Substandard Accomodation – Self contained unit The proposed development includes the creation of a self-contained residential unit within the property. The unit, which is physically separated from the remainder of the accommodation and has no internal access to the proposed House in Multiple Occupation, would provide a gross internal floor area of approximately 20.5 square metres. The accommodation would therefore fail to meet the minimum floorspace requirement of 37 square metres for a one-bedroom, one-person dwelling as set out in the Nationally Described Space Standard. As such, the proposal would result in substandard living accommodation, providing poor residential amenity for future occupiers. The development is therefore contrary to the Nationally Described Space Standard (2015), para. 126 of the National Design Guide (2019), paras 124, 129 and 135(f) of the National Planning Policy Framework (2024) and Policy B2 of the Eastbourne Core Strategy (2013).
2. 2.Key Principle 1 - Loss of Family-Sized Accommodation The proposal would result in the loss of an existing 3-bedroom dwellinghouse through its conversion to a House in Multiple Occupation. This would erode the stock of family-sized accommodation within Upperton, a ward identified in the Eastbourne Houses in Multiple Occupation SPD as already having a high number of HMOs and a relatively low proportion of family housing. The proposal would therefore fail to maintain a mixed and balanced housing stock and is contrary to policies B2 and D5 of the Eastbourne Core Strategy (2013), Saved Policy HO9 of the Eastbourne Borough Plan (2003), and Key Principle 1 of the Eastbourne Houses in Multiple Occupation SPD (2025).
3. 3.Key Principle 5 – Impact on public realm The application fails to demonstrate that adequate provision has been made for outdoor amenity space, refuse and recycling storage, or secure cycle parking. In the context of the proposed intensity of use, these omissions would result in poor living conditions for future occupiers and harm to the character, appearance and functioning of the surrounding area, including increased pressure on the public realm. The proposal is therefore contrary to policies B2, D8 and D10a of the Core Strategy, policy UHT4 of the Eastbourne Borough Plan (2003), Key Principles 4, 5 and 6 of the Eastbourne Houses in Multiple Occupation SPD (2025) and paragraph 135 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2024).

From the council's decision notice.

Postcode

BN21 2JE

Application type

Planning Permission

Date validated

15 June 2026

Target decision date

10 August 2026

Applicant

Private applicant

Agent address

New Holme Victoria Road Bexhill TN39 3PD

Case officer

Ella Rigluth