Revised Middleton care home plans ‘still not suitable’

Arun District Council turned down an application for the 66-bed facility off Yapton Road back in February, with the developer then appealing against the decision to the planning inspectorate.

However before the appeal has been heard, Frontier Estates submitted a fresh application, which it says reduces the scale and density of the proposals and its perceived impact on trees.

According to the developer a lower building has been designed by rationalising space within the development and introducing a part-basement level.

But objectors believe the new set of plans have not addressed the original concerns including the ‘unsuitability’ of the site for such a large development in a ‘quiet rural village’.

Other grounds for objection range from the access through a cul-de-sac at Silver Birch Drive, to cutting across a right of way, the number of parking spaces, an increase in traffic using the Comet Corner junction and the Dukes Motors roundabout, the ‘unsuitability’ of Yapton Road leading up to the A259, the strain on services and infrastructure, the rerouting of a footpath during construction and the capacity of the sewer network as well as potential flooding.

Middleton-on-Sea Parish Council has also maintained its objection.

More than 100 objections from residents have been received

One objector wrote: “Whatever minor adjustments Frontier Estates may make to their new plan for the care home on Yapton Road, the site and location are still not suitable and we do not want or need a care home on the site.”

Another suggested in order to comply with Sussex Police’s request for fencing, locked gates, head-height light and the CCTV the access from Silver Birch Lane would ‘have the appearance of a high security prison’ which ‘will destroy the rural tranquillity of the area’.

Another objector said: “This is a quiet part of the village, to put a building of this magnitude right on top of it is absolutely outrageous.

“It will transform the area negatively with unwanted activity and noise not expected when moving into the area.”