Conversion plans for Eastbourne's former telephone exchange building refused

Artist's impression of the scheme proposed for the former telephone exchange building site in Moy Avenue, Eastbourne

Controversial proposals to convert the former BT telephone exchange building in Eastbourne into flats have been refused by planners.

Developers had been seeking permission to build up to 85 flats on the vacant site in Moy Avenue, after a previous application for 95 units was rejected by Eastbourne Borough Council and then dismissed on appeal by a planning inspector.

While the revised application had been recommended for approval, the council’s planning committee refused the application due to concerns it would be an overdevelopment of the site on Tuesday (October 23).

Leader of the council David Tutt, one of the ward councillors for St Anthony’s, said: “We are not looking at a group of residents who oppose residential development, they support that as do I. The question is whether or not it is overdevelopment and I believe that it is.

“This is a very busy area. It is an area which serves at least one, if not two, schools and children walk around here regularly. The site is already very congested and to have a blind turning in or out of that development is one, I believe, will lead to an accident in the not so distant future.

“In conclusion, I believe this is an overdevelopment of the area. I believe it will impact adversely on the quality of life of residents of Moy Avenue and Waterworks Road and I ask you to refuse it.”

Cllr Tutt also highlighted how residents support the building of a 36-house scheme on the site instead, which was granted planning permission in 2015.