Dear Sir
Howard kent site application AWDM/1979/17
I am writing to register my objection to the above planning application on behalf of a number of constituents who have written to me expressing their concerns and the very strong opposition demonstrated at the public meeting arranged by the Kingston Beach Resident’s Association which I attended on February 2nd.
From what I have seen of the plans the proposed development appears overbearing and completely out of character with the surrounding area not least the listed lighthouse, RNLI lifeboat station and the Kingston Beach public green. It would dwarf the lighthouse and terraced houses on the north side of Brighton Road which would completely lose their southerly views and be overshadowed. This is surely far too constricted a site and too near other residential dwellings to merit such a high build. It is also difficult to see what community benefit would accrue to the local community from such a development and the lack of public realm facilities included. This is in contrast to the nearby Free Wharf plans which have been recently approved and which include a considerable amount of public amenity and improvement to the waterside.
Given the added pressures to the local infrastructure that the Free Wharf development will bring to an already congested A259 where there ae also concerns about air quality as evidenced in the recent research by the AREA group it is essential therefore that further residential development along the Brighton Road is well thought through, sustainable and a provable community benefit and where there is a strong likelihood that the additional housing will contribute directly to the existing housing need for genuinely local people. As it stands this development looks like to be ‘snapped up’ by buyers from out of town and the so-called ‘affordable’ rented accommodation looks to be out of the range of many local people.
I am also concerned about the effect on Shoreham Harbour and the Port Authority have already expressed their concerns about the effect of light pollution interfering with the ability of pilots, ship’s masters and skippers of smaller vessels to navigate into the harbour at night, as Shoreham is designated as a harbour of safe haven for all shipping.
For all these reasons therefore I am of the strong view that this is a totally inappropriate proposal and would urge the Panning Committee to reject it.
Yours sincerely
Tim Loughton MP
Member of Parliament for East Worthing & Shoreham