Plans for flats above Burgess Hill food store

New River Retail, the company behind the redevelopment of the Martlets, wants permission to convert the existing first floor above the food retailer in Church Walk to residential as well as building two new extra storeys.

This would leave the ground floor as retail with 15 flats spread across the three floors above.

An application is due to be discussed by Mid Sussex District Council’s planning committee next Thursday (December 10).

It suggests development of the site ‘complements and builds upon future proposals for the redevelopment of the adjacent Martlets’, adding: “Our proposal seeks to reinvigorate and revitalise this area to form part of the future vision of growth and redevelopment of Burgess Hill town centre.”

Although no affordable housing is proposed within the scheme, the developer has offered an off-site financial contribution equivalent to two affordable units.

No parking spaces are being provided for the new flats, although cycle provision is being made at the rear of the site.

Officers said: “The proposal would result in the delivery of 15 residential units within a highly accessible and sustainable location, that would boost the council’s housing supply. Additional dwellings in the town centre would also help support local business. These matters should be given significant weight.

“It is considered that the scheme proposed is of a scale and form appropriate to its town centre location. The design of the of proposal is such that it is considered to make a positive contribution to the character and appearance of the area and it would not be detrimental in townscape views.”