Councillors expressed their annoyance after neighbours objected to relatively minor changes to a planning application that had already been approved.
Plans to sub-divide the plot at 7 Saxon Close, Rottingdean, to build an additional three-bedroom house next to the existing detached home were approved by Brighton and Hove City Council’s Planning Committee in September 2023.
The property owner, My Sales Limited, applied to amend the approved application – to excavate a patio at the front of the new house.
The company also sought permission to enlarge the patio at the back – at basement level – and the proposals went before the Planning Committee yesterday (Wednesday 3 September) after five neighbours objected.
The objections focused on the original approved design, raising concerns about increased traffic, overdevelopment, loss of views and privacy.
Labour councillor Julie Cattell said that the application was approved in principle and the changes made the outdoors more accessible.
Councillor Cattell said: “I can’t see any reason why we should be recommending refusal for this.
“I see that most of the representations are a second bite at the cherry for people who weren’t happy with the first application so I’m happy to support the recommendation.”
Fellow Labour councillor Joy Robinson shared her frustration that the application come before councillors as the objectors opposed the first application.
Councillor Robinson said: “It’s kind of a shame that we have to keep bringing these applications to committee. We’re wasting all our time and money on something that we can’t consider.
“It’s come to committee because of those objections which are not relevant to this application.”
Brighton and Hove Independent councillor Mark Earthey voted against the application when it went before the committee two years ago, raising concerns about density.
But Councillor Earthey, who represents Rottingdean and West Saltdean, said: “There’s no material change on this application which we’ve already agreed. I agree, it’s a shame it’s got this far.”
Conservative councillor Carol Theobald asked for clarification on neighbours’ opposition to changes to the street’s “turning head” and a heat pump.
She was assured the current application made no changes to the street and the heat pump was a “permitted development”.
Councillor Theobald said: “I don’t think I voted for this when the application came up but, now it has full planning permission, these amendments do not look too bad to me. It’ll probably be an advantage.
“It looks like minor changes so I’ll be voting for this.”
When the original application went before the committee in 2023, neighbours raised concerns about housing density and the impact on the nearby Saxon burial ground.
Brighton and Hove Independent councillor Bridget Fishleigh, who also represents Rottingdean and West Saltdean, also spoke against the plans. She called them an overdevelopment that would adversely affect the community.
The original application was passed by six votes to two. The amendments were passed unanimously.
