It seems most planning applications these days are controversial.

We have very little space to house our growing population but surely it is not a necessity, nor will it help the present housing crisis, to build penthouses on top of 1-35 Coniston Court in Holland Road, Hove?

There are two blocks and building on the first will create a precedent for the second.

If this is approved, the reason the developers can put forward for the second building is they would no longer have the same number of floors so look unsightly.

Are we doing a U-turn, learning from developing countries who regularly add floors to buildings very often with dire consequences?

However, before it reaches this stage, all effort must be made to stop any additional floors to the first block.

Why do people choose to live on the top floor of a building?

Mainly because they do no wish to have anyone overhead.

Furthermore, in Coniston Court, many of the residents are elderly people who are at home all day and will be affected by the noise, dirt and, more importantly, the lift being out of service for much of the time. Three penthouses are not built in a day.

Finally, if planning permission is given to the developers for these penthouses, all residents of similar flat roof blocks will live in fear that they are next.

-Anne Giebeler, Prospective Conservative candidate, Goldsmid ward, Hove