Residents have slammed plans to redevelop a building in a town centre calling it a "monster concrete block" which will "kill business".
The proposals are to demolish the site of a barber’s shop in Railway Approach, East Grinstead, and turn it into a new shop on the ground floor and build seven apartments too.
Dozens of residents have objected to the plans that were submitted to Mid Sussex District Council by developer Maple Planning and Development.
They have complained about the modern design which is not in keeping with the rest of the town.
In an online objection made on April 20, a resident of St John’s Road in the town said: “The roof line should be in keeping with the other buildings in the street.
“I have no problem with it being retail on the ground floor and flats above but the design is not in keeping and looks like a monster concrete block design with no thought to its surrounding environment.”
A resident of Hermitage Road said: “The first view of East Grinstead when leaving the railway station is of Railway Approach."
“First impressions are the lasting ones.
"Let's try and keep our town in the fashion that it was built. You would not see something like this in Chester or Lincoln or any other town with historical architecture such as ours.”
Five of the seven flats would have one bedroom and two would have two bedrooms.
The development would be made up of one larger building and three smaller ones.
A resident of Manning Close said: “This is not in keeping with the area and road it's proposed to be on. Seven flats, potentially 14 cars and no parking. This would ruin the area.”
Someone living in Lancaster Drive said: “What a hideous proposed alteration to the existing building. It is totally inappropriate and out of character.”
A resident of The Close said: “These look awful and will kill this side of town further. I hate this idea. I really think this isn't in keeping and will destroy local businesses”
The plans have been validated by Mid Sussex District Council and will be considered in the coming weeks before a decision is made.
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