<\/p>\n
The Bexhill Observer reports:<\/p>\n
Chameleon Refurbishments wanted to demolish St Andrew\u2019s Church in Wickham Avenue and build a four-storey building with 10 flats plus parking spaces. It was the third attempt by the developer to knock down the Victorian church, which closed in December 2011.<\/p>\n
Two previous applications to Rother District Council (RDC) were withdrawn due to concerns about the loss of a heritage site.<\/p>\n
The two previous applications, in 2014 and 2015, proposed to only destroy part of the church, leaving the facade, but both were withdrawn before RDC assessed them as many residents voiced concerns about a range of topics.<\/p>\n
But Chameleon Refurbishments, in its latest application, wanted to get rid of the whole church and argued the replacement would make a \u2018positive contribution\u2019 to the area\u2019s character and \u2018provide much-needed\u2019 housing.<\/p>\n
The building, completed in 1900, was designed by architect J.B. Wall, who also constructed the Colonnade.<\/p>\n
In a letter to RDC\u2019s planning and building control department in December 2016, Alex Bowring, conservation advisor for The Victorian Society, recommended the application be refused permission. He said: \u201cThe designer of the church was a notable local architect who was responsible for the Egerton Park Estate which the church historically served.\u201d<\/p>\n