Charity told it cannot trade from new base

A CHILDREN’S charity forced out by storm damage has been refused permission to trade from its new base.
W46864H13 Freddysmile moving to its new home at Chartwell House in NovemberW46864H13 Freddysmile moving to its new home at Chartwell House in November
W46864H13 Freddysmile moving to its new home at Chartwell House in November

Freddysmile Children’s Cancer Charity had to leave its premises at Lancing Business Park in November but found a new home just a few hundred yards away.

On Monday, Adur Council’s planning committee refused retrospective permission to change the use of the storage and distribution warehouse to retail use for the sale of secondhand goods.

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Cllr Peter Metcalfe said: “I am a great supporter of Freddysmile. It is a great shame they have gone into this building and are seeking retrospective permission.

“It is industrial use and we need it for jobs. They should perhaps seek more suitable premises.”

The application related to the front part of Chartwell House, on the corner of Chartwell Road. Lancing Business Park raised objections on the grounds it should be protected for industrial use.

Cllr David Donaldson added: “It is a business park, it is not a retail park. It think it would be entirely the wrong use.”

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The charity used to operate from a unit at Parklands Business Centre, also in Chartwell Road, but this was also unauthorised. It had to cut short its five-year lease when storm damage to the roof caused flooding.

Lancing Business Park is the largest employment area in Adur and there are more than 200 companies based there.