An historic Bognor Regis building with links to one of the most famous painters of the 19th century could be demolished.
Plans have been revealed to replace Belmont Lodge in Belmont Street with 24 flats.
The outline proposals would see the near 200-year-old premises swept away in favour of two and three bedroom apartments up to four storeys high.
Planning agent A
nthony Greenwood, of Henry Adams Planning Ltd, has submitted the outline scheme for Arun District Council to consider.
Belmont Lodge has been used as a solicitors' office for several decades. But its claim to fame dates back more than 130 years. A one-storey coach house, now a garage, in its grounds was used by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, pictured, for painting.
The artist, illustrator and poet was one of the most prominent members of the pre-Raphaelite movement.
Rossetti (1828-82) stayed at the now-demolished Aldwick Lodge in Dark Lane from October, 1875 to July, 1876.
His model, Janey, the wife of William Morris, posed for the painting Venus Astarte there.
Belmont Lodge at the time was the home of fellow highly-regarded artist, William Shakespeare Burton.
Rossetti's time at the property is marked by a blue heritage plaque at the entrance. But the Lodge, in spite of dating back to the Regency period between 1811 and 1820, is not a listed building. That is the result of internal alterations which have turned a terrace of three Regency properties into one.
Mr Greenwood says in a statement with the planning application that the proposed redevelopment is in line with government planning advice to provide housing on central sites already in use.
He states: "The application seeks to comply with the terms of the policy in that it represents significant inward investment producing residential accommodation close to the town centre, thereby improving economic viability and vitality."
The proposals have also been designed after taking into account the proposed redevelopment of the Regis Centre on the opposite side of Belmont Street.
"...but it must be stressed that the architecture and design of the building comprise a stand-alone scheme which ... will significantly enhance the streetscape and existing vistas obtained of the site from the promenade," he adds.
"The building has, therefore, been purposely designed to have a light construction utilising significant levels of glazing in a modern construction which will result in high visual interest in the street scene."
The result will be a 'visually attractive and interesting building', which will stretch across the entire site, he claims.
The building's height will range from about 25.3m above ground level at the western end to some 12m in the eastern end.
Parking for up to 13 cars will be provided in an underground area.
Five individuals who own the land have been notified about the redevelopment proposals.
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