FRUSTRATED residents think they have been “kept in the dark” about plans to add another storey to a neighbouring building.

The block on the corner of Portland Road and Shelley Road in Poets Corner, Hove, contains Costa Coffee and Sainsbury’s.

It already has one floor above it and now an application has been submitted to add a further floor.

Only the immediate neighbour to the existing building in Shelley Road has received notification of the plans, with the deadline for comment or objection stated as tomorrow.

Zoe Mathewson-Sharpe, 42, of Shelley Road, said: “We knew nothing about this until our neighbour passed us the letter.

“It is only because of word of mouth that we all now know what is going on.”

Wish ward Councillor Robert Nemeth shared his thoughts on the way in which residents are notified of such planning applications and their right to reply.

He said: “The administration chooses to operate a quite appalling consultation process which is why residents rarely know when a nearby planning application is under way.

“Bizarrely, they only notify adjoining residents and then don’t give the date by which comments must be received.

“It catches people out all of the time.”

The redevelopment of the building would include a one-bedroom flat and three two-bedroom flats being added above the existing structure.

Mrs Mathewson-Sharpe told The Argus she feels Shelley Road residents have been “bombarded” over the past few years with developers and builders on their small street.

She said: “There has been so much going on here lately.

“Builders already occupy the first floor above the shops while they work and are living in what appear to be squalid conditions.

“We’ve had to complain to the council about a waste pipe draining straight out on to the street, as well as rubbish gathering and problems with rats.

Residents have been canvassing others in the street and have registered their objections on the council’s website.

“It probably won’t do any good,” said Mrs Mathewson-Sharpe.

“We have formally objected to the planning of the flat height extension on the development above Costa.

“We objected due to the massive addition to car parking.

“We already have an issue with Sainsbury’s customers using our street to park on.

“It just adds more pressure on all infrastructure, doctors’ surgeries, schools etc.

“I’m just not sure the area can cope and, on a purely selfish level, it will affect our privacy and light and we will feel very hemmed in by another level being added to the building.

“Finally, it will take longer to complete the project – police have been called numerous times because of squatters, drug deals taking place in there etc.

“It’s all a bit of a nightmare really.”