Race and Sex Bias Alleged in Appeal Case
A planning appeal launched by owner architect Elsie Owusu claims that Hastings Borough Council discriminated against her on grounds of race, ethnicity and gender in refusing to grant permission for building of four “eco-houses” on a vacant plot at Newts Way in Hollington.
Ms Owusu’s complaint of unfair treatment as a BAME woman was made at the original hearing last November but received little sympathy from planning committee chair Cllr Alan Roberts. She has, however, raised a crowd-funded sum in excess of her stated target of £5,000 to back an appeal which retains the allegations of race and sex discrimination.
Her pitch to crowdfunders points out that “while rejecting proposals from two BAME applicants on this small redundant site, Hastings Council granted permission for another 210 ‘standard’ new houses by white developers,
on large areas of nearby land – a total of 400 houses in all…Existing homes in this area of Hastings are mainly owned by white residents. Some appear to have consistently opposed the applications from BAME applicants. This is unfair and could lead to disparate outcomes.”
Opponents of her proposed building scheme have hit back with posters displayed on the gates of an adjacent property setting out a raft of reasons why the original objections should be sustained on appeal. The posters make no reference to any race or gender issues.
No hearing date for the appeal has yet been set.
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