RESIDENTS claim their sea view will be destroyed by a newbuild – and the council made them even angrier with an excuse.
Plans for almost 50 "brutalist" flats at the former St Saviour's hospital site in Hythe, Kent, were approved today.
The proposals previously sparked fury among locals as one of the buildings, which is five storeys tall, is two metres higher than originally planned.
Residents fear the development, which sits on a "dramatic" upward slope exceeding 23 metres, will tower over neighbours and invade their privacy.
Now the authority's chief planner Llywelyn Lloyd has added insult to injury responding to arguments about the visual impact of the block, KentOnline reported.
During a Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) meeting, the development was given the green light.
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Mr Lloyd said: "Most residents that previously had a view will have a view, and we're talking about two metres extra above the top of the previous St Saviour's building.
"Nobody has a right to a view – they're lovely and we'd all like to keep them, but we don't have a right to them."
The 1960s private hospital was shut in 2015 and bulldozed last year, with FHDC approving the outline plans in 2016.
Labelling the plans "monstrous", neighbour David Ellerby said: "We would be overlooked by 60 bedrooms."
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Trevor Ballard, who also lives next to the site, added: "It's got higher and they've moved it higher up the bank – it's just ridiculous."
Hythe Town Council's planning committee said the development was "over-intensive" and would have a "detrimental impact on the local infrastructure".
Developers Ureco Properties said: "The current proposals have sought to address all comments, whilst achieving a scheme that significantly enhances the previously consented outline application."
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