A planning application has been submitted to convert the old Barclays Bank on Crowborough High Street into three flats.
The proposal for change of use is to convert the ground floor into two 2-bedroomed flats and the lower ground floor into a 1-bedroomed flat. The upper
floors have been residential for many years.
The bank closed in November 2021 and a document submitted with the application explains there has been no interest to date in leasing the premises for commercial uses.
The changes include a slight raising of the existing flat roof with a rooflight, and bin stores will be created using existing redundant areas. These changes are at the rear of the building and therefore will not be seen from the High Street.
One of the ground floor apartments will be accessed via the bank’s old main entrance, the other flat will have a dedicated entrance where the night safe was located. The apartment on the lower floor will be accessed via a new door onto Eridge Road. The building is within the Conservation Area and the application explains existing materials will be matched.
Click to see the application: Planning application Barclays Bank (Ref: WD/2022/2870/F). People can comment until 9th Dec 22.
The town is growing exponentially and businesses need to be encouraged back to the high street to cater for the thousands of new residents.
Turning the ground floor of this prominent building into flats is an absurd idea.