Planning plea for murder house (From The Argus)

Planning plea for murder house

10:20am Sunday 13th January 2013 in News

DEVELOPERS want to turn a former squat that was the scene of a grisly murder into a bedsit.

Brighton-based AR Properties have applied to turn the house in Russell Square, Brighton, where father-of-three Craig Palmer was battered to death in 2011, into a property for six different occupants.

However the plans have already run into problems with the firm receiving a ticking off from the council for carrying out work without permission.

Residents and local conservationists have also questioned whether the grade II listed property can sustain the building work needed to makeover the property.

The property was the long-term home of Regency Square Area Society member Ken Kennar until his death in 2010.

After his death the property was occupied by squatters and in January 2011 father-of-three Craig Palmer was beaten to death there.

In June last year, a council planning enforcement officer told the owners of the property to stop all works being carried out without listed building consent.

Officers revisited the property after work resumed in November and the owner was subsequently cautioned.

AR Properties have now submitted a new planning application which was registered this week for a one-bedroom flat in the basement and five bedsits on the ground, first, second and third floors of the property. The property developer proposes to spend about £85,000 to “restore what was a dilapidated home”.

The developers also state in that application that they will make “every attempt” to restore the building to “its original shape”.

Duncan Cameron, a resident and Regency Square Area Society member, said that he feared the property was not structurally sound enough to support being converted into a house of multiple occupancy.

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