Developer faces prospect of legal action over Claremont Hotel hoardings

The burnt-out remains of the seafront Claremont Hotel, propped up with scaffolding, have been surrounded by hoardings which have become more dilapidated over the past two years. REBECCA MAER asked Eastbourne Borough Council and the developer what was being done to improve its appearance. 

Legal action may be taken if the developer of the prominent seafront site opposite the pier does not tidy its appearance, Eastbourne Borough Council has told the Eastbourne Reporter. 

Planning permission is expected to be submitted within the next three months for 65 apartments on the site as part of its long-term redevelopment – but the hoardings have been in a shocking state for at least two summers, with mismatched crumbling panels and peeling paint. 

Officers have been considering formal enforcement action to improve the look of the site in the short term, the council told us. 

Oasis Developers is the company due to develop the site. 

Director Venkat Pabbathi told the Eastbourne Reporter that he had arranged for the tatty hoardings to be repaired a few weeks ago. 

But he hoped to replace the peeling panels with images of what the proposed project would look like. “That would make it look better,” he said. 

We asked Cllr Jenny Williams, Cabinet member for Tourism and Place, if the council was likely to use legislation to ensure the site perimeter was fully repaired. 

We received the following statement and responses from a council spokesman: 

“I understand we are awaiting submission of a planning application. Clearly this will be a positive move that will provide more certainty over the site’s future. 

“Taking account of a change in site ownership, the focus has been to support the ambition of the new owners to develop the site and bring it back into meaningful use.” 

These are our questions and the council’s responses: 

Q. What action is the council taking to ensure the site does not continue to look like this through a third summer? 

A. Whilst an application is expected soon, and the focus is to secure the long-term future of the site, it is anticipated that interim site improvements will be made in awaiting the development of the site.  

Should there be no meaningful progress, council officers have been considering formal enforcement action to improve the visual appearance of the site in the interim. 

Q. I understand that under Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 councils have the power to ensure owners tidy sites. Does EBC intend to exercise this right if no action is taken? 

A. Yes 

The 1990 Act gives local planning authorities the power “to take steps requiring land to be cleaned up when its condition adversely affects the amenity of the area. If it appears that the amenity of part of their area is being adversely affected by the condition of neighbouring land and buildings, they may serve a notice on the owner requiring that the situation be remedied”.

Mr Pabbathi said he hoped that planning permission would be submitted in April or May and wanted to finalise plans before putting images on the site boundary. 

“We have a conversation going on with Historic England. The council has been very helpful so we are working towards putting plans in.  

“It’s all positive on the planning side; we want to make sure we are going in the right direction with Historic England.” He said much of the discussion related to the elevation and the windows. 

“We are looking to marry it to the left [Burlington Hotel] side. We are going to be reinstating what it was like before looking from the front and side. 

“Inside will be mid to high-spec apartments.” 

The building was severely damaged in a fire in November 2019 caused by a gas leak and was subsequently largely demolished. Clearance of the site cost EBC £68,400 in August 2020, according to purchase orders for that year. 

The Grand Parade terrace originally comprised 19 houses when it was built in the 1850s, according to Historic England, and was a Grade II-listed building. The neighbouring Burlington Hotel spans 13 of the houses. 

Historic England is a public body which gives advice to developers and planning authorities about changes to heritage assets.

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