Planning Permission approved for a difficult Housing Development and a Phase II Office retrofit

We are delighted to announce that we have received planning permission for two of our ongoing projects.

Project One: 6 New Homes, Barcombe Cross, Lewes

Last week saw Lewes District Council’s planning committee grant outline planning approval for proposals to develop six new dwellings on a site outside the planning boundary of the rural village of Barcombe. The process started back in 2014 when BBM were approached by the clients, who had the plot for over forty years, to look into the feasibility of obtaining a planning permission for new housing on the site. BBM suggested a strategy of first promoting the plot for a site allocation through the local planning authority’s Strategic Land Availability Assessment. BBM then prepared a capacity study looking at the development potential which it then presented to the local Parish Council and local neighbours of the development. Feedback was taken on board and the quantum of development, with the clients blessing, was reduced from the twelve units to eventually six. With the assistance of planning consultants, Kember Loudon Williams, representations were made to the draft Local Plan Part 2 in January 2018 which were successful in gaining the plot an allocation in the draft Local Plan. At this point the team assessed there was a good chance the scheme would be positively received by the LPA so long as all the necessary supporting surveys and assessments were in place including ecological, heritage, arboricultural, soil contamination and transport reports as well as an outline drainage strategy. That assessment has now been proven correct with the planning committee granting the outline approval on the 21^st November 2018.

Project Two: Community Base retrofit Phase II

The Community Base building located on Queens Road, Brighton, East Sussex currently houses nearly thirty charities and voluntary organisations. Through 2016 – 2017, BBM were involved in the initial phase of work as the building underwent a major refurbishment and upgrade of the facades including new windows, new wall insulation and cladding. The works have so far seen a 20% reduction in energy bills and a significant improvement to occupant comfort. These phase 2 works will see other elements of the six storey / 54 metre long building receive similar refurbishments and upgrades.