Planning Appeal for Worthing’s Windsor House Hotel Dismissed

The Planning Inspectorate has upheld Worthing Borough Council’s decision to deny the conversion of the former Windsor House Hotel into a house in multiple occupation (HMO).

The appeal, lodged by housing and social care provider SDR Group, aimed to transform the Windsor Road property into shared living accommodation but was ultimately rejected.

In January 2023, Worthing’s planning committee refused SDR Group’s proposal to convert the hotel into an HMO consisting of 44 bedrooms spread across five self-contained annexes. The plan included shared kitchen, dining, and living spaces, potentially accommodating up to 83 residents. SDR Group challenged this decision, prompting a review by the Planning Inspectorate.

After a hearing in July where evidence was presented by SDR Group, local residents, and council officials, the Planning Inspectorate concluded that the redevelopment would cause significant noise and disturbance, detracting from the character of the area and negatively impacting nearby residents. As a result, the appeal was dismissed.

Former East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton welcomed the appeal result but expressed concerns about the process leading to the appeal and the potential for a revised application from SDR Group in the future.

“We know we need more accommodation for homeless people,” said Mr Loughton in a social media video, “but in Selden Ward in particular, we have got an awful lot of HMOs already, all concentrated in a smaller area, and that’s why residents are up in arms… this would be the biggest HMO in the whole of Worthing if this goes through, and that’s why we’re going to fight on.”