The owner of one of the oldest buildings on Brighton seafront has been granted planning permission to build an extra floor on appeal.
Rapido Services Limited applied for permission to add a floor to 132 King’s Road, Brighton, but Brighton and Hove City Council’s Planning Committee turned down the proposal last June.
The Surrey property company appealed against the refusal and can now go ahead with the project.
Rapido applied to create a two-bedroom flat, with a front roof terrace and stone balustrade, and a new lift and stairwell in the building which for years housed Melrose restaurant – now Pinello.
Rapido director Giuseppe Cardillo-Zallo, 61, said that the 18th-century building was not listed, although two neighbours are – 131 King’s Road and Astra House are both grade II* listed.
Planning inspector Gill Bayliss said that building had historical interest because it was within the Regency Square Conservation Area which had 18th and 19th Century “grand terraces”.
But the application site was described as having had some “unsympathetic alterations” including a first-floor glazed veranda, modern shopfront, UPVC windows and loss of its “ornate balustrade”.
She said: “The proposed additional storey would be set back from the front elevation behind the bow frontage and roughly in line with Astra House but further recessed alongside No 131.
“Given the substantial setback, together with the screening effect of the parapet and proposed balustrade, I am satisfied that, even with a glass frontage, the proposed extension would be largely hidden from public view.
“Any glimpses of it would be minimal and it would not appear out of place on the building or in relation to the adjoining buildings.
“Furthermore, it would assimilate with the rich and varied skyline of buildings along the seafront. Nor would it cause harm to the original form or architectural interest of the building.”
Mr Cardillo-Zallo submitted an application for costs but the planning inspector refused, saying that the council’s Planning Committee was not “duty-bound” to follow officials’ advice and had given good grounds for refusal.
The site also has planning permission to restore the stone balustrade and for a higher roof, with permission having been granted in February.
Yet another planning refusal overturned by the PI. How much are these councillors costing us in wasted legal fees??
Would you rather residents feelings are not represented and developers are not given any checks or challenges at all, Dave? Although, thinking about the Gasworks, you might end up getting your way; the phrase once bitten, twice shy seems to come into play with the arguably unfair penalty for consideration.