We have published a letter which was written to the Architect on the 16th June 2022. This was before the poster of objection was placed on the fence or petition was created. 

We want our supporters to know that we did try to engage with the architect and have an amicable resolution. 

The letter is below

Re: Newts way development of 1x 3 story dwelling or 4 x 4 story townhouses at TN389TH

I moved into The Sedges in St Leonard’s on the x May 2022. The first few weeks were exciting and enjoyable but on the 10th June 2022 I was informed that you had launched an appeal to the planning inspectorate (Case
ID 3298210) with regards to a planning application that was rejected by Hastings Borough Council on the 11th November 2021 on Newts way, TN389TU. ( HS/FA/20/0071) by a vote of 6:4.

I also read articles in the Sussex Express , Architect Journal and your crowd funding page talking about the discrimination you faced during the application process. I was disappointed to read your comments written about the local residences in the area and strongly dispute your version of events. As a new resident I have a fresh view on the matter and went through all the documents thoroughly and came to my own conclusions.

I am myself a BAME resident of Sri Lankan origin. I grew up in Xxx  just a few miles from where you grew up in xxx. I have lived and worked as a doctor in Hastings for 10 years. I worked at the Conquest hospital for 3 years and then as a GP in the local area. I have seen no evidence of racism or discrimination during my 10 years here. The local residences have welcomed me to the street, and I feel part of this community.

Over the last 10 years in Hastings I have lived with a Ghanaian flat mate for 2 years and a Nigerian flat mate for 1 year. None of us have felt any discrimination based on where we lived. Your argument about residence opposing your design because you are BAME in my opinion is null and void given I also oppose the planning application.

I have read all the comments on the Hastings council website and it is clear that the residences have a lot of valid concerns about the proposed development. I too have strong objections and it has nothing to do with you being BAME. I would object to any building being erected on that site regardless of the ethnicity of the applicant.

I have already summarised a list of all the concerns from local residences which amounts to almost 100 comments. This will be passed on to the planning inspectorate when the case goes live on the appeal casework portal.

I was hoping we could address some of the issues surrounding your proposed development in an amicable manner. I have been in contact with the newspapers myself but I am yet to consent to any story being published until I have given you the chance to explain some of the queries surrounding your proposed development.

Currently there is very strong opposition to any development on this land and without communicating with all parties involved, this could just end up going to the High court with a judicial review regardless of the outcome of the planning inspectorate. This would be very time consuming and expensive for all parties involved. Once you eradicate the accusations of discrimination and simply look at the facts about the proposed development it is clear to me that there are genuine valid reasons to oppose this development based on the facts.

I have a list of questions mentioned below. If you feel you would like to address them with me then it might help the
residence, make a more informed decision about the development.
Below are a few queries I have:
1. There is a 1977 legal covenant from Hastings Borough council and the previous developers that states nothing should be built on this plot of land. On what grounds has this covenant been dismissed legally?
2. The previous owner Mr A bought the land in 2015 at auction but soon realised the land was not suitable for development as mentioned in letters on the HBC website. He then sold the land at auction to you a year later. If it wasn’t suitable for development in 2015 why do you believe it is now suitable for development in 2022? What changed? I can only presume you wasn’t aware of the existing restrictions on the land when making your purchase at auction in 2016 for £36,000.
3. An ecology report was conducted but it was not extensive as there was limited access. Would you be willing to allow another study to be taken? We believe there are dormice and Newts living on the land which are protected species. Would you agree to allow for another study to be conducted?

4. There are storm tanks present which southern water has informed us of. These are vital for flood protection.
What measures have you in place to ensure these tanks will not be harmed and what structural engineers
have clarified if they are safe to move and relocate?
5. The 200 year old oak tree in the play park sits about 1-2 metres from your proposed property which is built
just 60cm to the land owned by HBC. Given the tree will continue to expand outwards in diameter how can you be sure the tree will remain protected and be allowed to thrive given the close nature of the tree to your building? Your drawings seem to have the property right up to the branch of the oak tree but the tree will continue to grow. According to research mature oaks usually reach about 80 feet in height with a branch
spread of 170 feet in diameter, or 85 feet from trunk to branch tip in all directions. Once mature, live oak can live for several centuries, often up to 250 years, with a maximum lifespan of 500 years. What happens if the branches grow into your property?
6. Given your proposed site is next to a children’s playpark, how can you ensure the safety of the children and that their access to the park won’t be limited during construction? There are many concerns that the construction traffic will cause a danger to the children in the park with. There is likely to be numerous lorries, diggers and construction vehicles present 3 metres from the entrance of the park for 1-2 years. What measures would be in places to ensure the park is safe at all times?
7. Given your land sits on a large bank which then slopes down to the park, if your property is built just 60cm from the border on a large slope, how do you propose to support this structure securely on your side of the land without damaging or interfering with the small stream that runs adjacent to it? During the autumn and winter seasons the stream fills up fast with water ? If construction occurs just 2 metres from the base of the
stream how can we be sure the stream can flow safely at all times without risking flooding?
8. If you build a 4 story property of 4 townhouses , there should be a minimum of 8 parking spaces but your
design only has 4 parking spaces. This would mean the excess cars would park on Newts way and cause congestion. This site is adjacent to a blind bend so there are traffic safety concerns. What measures will you take to ensure there is safe and adequate parking for all the new residence? If residences parked on Newts way it would narrow the road access and given there is a blind bend it would impact on the highway safety and restrict road access, do you accept this is true?
9. You mentioned the new houses are for artists moving to the area. Are you attaching any specific restrictions for potential residences who want to purchase a property on your site? Do they have to be artists? Or can anyone buy the houses if they are built?
10. Given the height of the 4 story townhouse would be at least 40 foot high with a roof top garden, have you got any drawings to show what view they would have of the gardens of the house at The Sedges and Newts way. One of the main concerns from multiple residences is a loss of privacy in their gardens and homes. Your build in my opinion overlooks other homes and causes a loss of privacy to 8+ houses
11. If the 3 story single dwelling house is built it would be 30’foot high. Have you got any drawings to show how high the building will be compared with the oak tree and what view it would have from the top floor bedroom to the properties at the Sedges, Newts way and Rushmere?
12. I noticed you plan to build 4 townhouses without any rear gardens at all. They would have a shared garden to the front of the house, this is an unusual design. Is it common practice to have no rear garden?
13. Residence had concerns about the large windows at the front of the house which would face the Sedges. Do you agree that those houses can directly look into the houses of number 5,6,7,8 the Sedges?
14. You have mentioned new trees that will be planted in the garden. I presume this means all existing shrubs and trees will be removed. This would remove vital privacy that we currently have. If you plan to plant new trees they will likely be narrow / thin trees that will take years to grow and create adequate privacy. Have you factored this in?
15. The trees in your artist impression drawings to the rear show multiple trees on the bank between the stream and the house. Would it be fair to say that these trees would not in-fact be present once built as they would need to be removed or cut to secure and support the sloped bank? This would mean that all the windows to the rear of the properties will directly overlook the children in the playpark , can you understand why some parents are concerned by this?
16. Given you intend to build using driven piling methods, what measures have you taken to ensure that the
noise and vibrations caused from the construction would not disrupt the local badger run which runs
adjacent ? Would this cause a negative effect to the existing nature conservation?
17. Your building appearance is out of character with the other existing properties. The townhouses are brightly
coloured with yellow green and red window frames in the shape of beach huts which are more fitted to the old town of Hastings. Do you feel that your design honestly suits the current local surroundings?

18. Could you clarify if you did win the appeal which building you actually plan to build, the 3 story single
dwelling or 4 story townhouses?
19. If you won the appeal could you clarify when you planned to start building and how long the project would
take to complete? Would it be 12months, 18 months or longer?
20. Having read all the supporting comments and opposing comments on the planning applications portal, I think it is fair to say that the supporting comments were all from your friends and professional colleagues. Can you clarify how many of them actually visited the proposed site to inspect the site and see how it would impact the privacy of surrounding neighbours as well as the surrounding environment?

These are just 20 of my queries. I have over 50. I thought we could start with these and then see if you are willing to open a dialogue with me. I am happy to pass the answers on to other residence. I want to assure you that the residence do not oppose your design or building because you are BAME and do not oppose new potential BAME residences moving in. In fact, there are 3 BAME households in the Sedges to my knowledge. If you could address our concerns, you may find that some residences are more open minded about the proposed idea. However currently there is strong opposition and once the case appeal portal opens there will be a lot of objections in the comment section.

If you choose not to reply then that is your choice. Ultimately the planning inspectorate can make a fair and informed decision with the information they are presented with. I have a list of 100 objections and 50 queries which the planning inspectorate will be given once the case is live. However we have never had any communication before so I wanted to give you a fair chance to engage with me so we could at least try to have an amicable resolution to this ongoing dispute.
I look forward to hearing your responses. I have taken the time to write to you, I hope you can attempt to address some of my concerns.

I would also kindly request that if in future you decide to publish any stories in the media that you do not publish that local residence are against you because you are BAME or that they do not accept BAME residence. It is clear to me that this is not true and causes unnecessary stress and anguish to the local residence.

kind regards

Dr x

————————

Following this email

The response received was

Dear Dr X

Thank you for your email, the contents of which are noted.

By copy of this message, I’ll forward your letter to my excellent barrister X X, in case he deems it worthy of a response.

Yours sincerely 

x Architect

——————-

Following this 3 further emails were received 

On the 2nd August 2022 we received emails threatening to report 2 residents from different households to Sussex police for racial and gender discrimination 

Then on the 5th August 2022 another email claiming To report the resident to the GMC

and another 2nd email claiming to report the resident to the GMC on the 16th August 2022

We will stand up to this architect no matter what they throw at us. We are not intimidated by their tactics. They can continue to make false accusations

728 have signed so far. We are aiming for 1000

please share the petition if you have time

Thank you