Residents raise concerns over plans to add additional storey to flats

Residents of the Kings Court flats in Harbour Road, Seaton, have raised concerns over plans to construct an additional storey on the building.

An application for 'prior approval' has been submitted to East Devon District Council to add an additional storey to Kings Court to create five new apartments with balconies.

'Prior approval' applications are submitted for certain types of development that are granted planning permission by national legislation, without the need to submit a full planning application, allowing the local authority to consider the proposals and their likely impacts.

However, residents of Kings Court have complained that, while the application was registered on December 18, they were not notified until January 9 and only have until February 5 to comment on the plans.

The residents, many of whom are elderly, have also raised concerns about potential noise and disturbance during construction, especially if this were to take place during COVID restrictions when they are unable to leave the house, as well as dust and loss of light from the development.

One resident who has objected to the proposals said the disturbance would be "unbearable for many months" for those who had purposely bought top floor flats to ensure peace and quiet.

Concerns have also been raised about the lack of additional parking for the new apartments and a planned cycle storage area and larger bin storage area, which will "take over" the residents' existing seating and garden area.

You can view the full application and make comments either for or against the proposal on the East Devon planning website.