Plans to convert Copthorne hotel into 10 flats approved

An application to convert a Copthorne hotel into ten flats has been approved by Mid Sussex District Council.
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The plans for the Regency Hotel, in Old Hollow, were put to a meeting of the planning committee on Thursday (October 8) where members felt they were ‘the best we can hope for’.

The mock Tudor building will be extended at first-floor level, providing eight two-bedroom and two one-bedroom flats.

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There will be parking for 17 cars and the hotel swimming pool will be removed to provide communal space and a play area for children.

Regency Hotel in CopthorneRegency Hotel in Copthorne
Regency Hotel in Copthorne

The committee had concerns that more parking space would be needed given how isolated the site is – Old Hollow is so narrow that cars cannot pass each other without one pulling over, and it has no lighting and no pavements.

While there is a bus stop half a mile away, Christopher Phillips (Ind, Copthorne & Worth) doubted any one would go to and from the new flats on foot.

He said: “There is absolutely no way people would walk from the Regency Hotel to the bus stop because you probably wouldn’t live long enough to get on the bus, quite frankly.”

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Members were told there was room on the site to add more parking spaces if needed.

They agreed with Mr Phillips that the plans were ‘the best that we can hope for without extending the footprint’ and approved the application unanimously.