Planning Committee

Minutes

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the informal meeting of the PLANNING COMMITTEE held remotely on Monday 9 August 2021 at 7.30pm

Attendees: Parish Councillors: Carolyn Barton, Kristian Berggreen, Bob Brewer, Leslie Campbell, Bill Hatton, Nick Owens and Claire Tester.

In Attendance: Deputy Clerk: Tracy Forte. Two members of the public.

P21/50 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE. There were no apologies for absence.

P21/51 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST. Cllr Bob Brewer declared a personal interest in DM/21/2628 Land To The Rear Of Friars Oak London Road, Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9NA. Cllr Carolyn Barton declared a personal pecuniary interest in DM/21/2764 3 Highlands Close Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8LD Single storey pitched/flat roof /rear extension.

P21/52 MINUTES. Members noted the Minutes of the Meeting held on 19 July 2021 (previously circulated), for approval at the next Committee meeting.

P21/53 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. There were two members of the public present but they did not wish to make any comments.

P21/54 The Chair proposed considering application DM/21/2628 Land To The Rear Of Friars Oak London Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9NA first, which was supported by the Committee.

P21/55 APPLICATIONS
DM/21/2628 Land To The Rear Of Friars Oak London Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9NA Reserved Matters Application for the approval of appearance, landscaping, layout and scale at land r/o Friars Oak pursuant to Outline Planning Permission DM/19/1897, comprising of a residential development of 130 dwellings and associated access together with change of use of part of the land to country open space, following the provision of a new pedestrian tunnel under the railway. Response: Hassocks Parish Council RECOMMENDS REFUSAL for the following reasons:

1. PROW 5K/Non-Car Route provision.

i. As part of Hassocks Parish Council’s commitment to creating easy to use Non-Car Routes in Hassocks, it is important that:

• The Footpath 5K which runs through this site is maintained at 3.5 metres wide and that the developer provides a heavy duty hard surface to allow use by both pedestrians and cycles throughout the year. This will allow safe direct Pedestrian and Cycle access for the new Rydon development (as well as the Bellway development west of the London Road) into Hassocks Centre and schools. Also, that the contractor accepts and facilitates an upgrade of PROW 5K to Bridleway status by WSCC.

• The proposed footpath link at the NW corner of the site be upgraded to allow a more direct cycle route access from the Rydon development onto the Cycle Route to Burgess Hill.

• A safe cycle route and crossing arrangement be provided at the A273 London Road junction to allow cyclists to cross safely to the Bellway development.

ii. Plots 74 and 75 and the apartment block containing plots 80-83 are very close to the PROW which will create a narrow tunnel like walkway between the hedgerow and fencing. Furthermore, the apartment block is too close to the large tree to the west. The position of these properties needs to be adjusted accordingly and the footpath widened.

2. Electric Charging Points
In view of the Government’s accelerated timescales for conversion to electric vehicles it would be appropriate to install a higher level of charging points. The Council would therefore like to see:

i. The base level of fully installed Charging Points be 50%.

ii.100% of detached houses be fully installed – as these will have high car ownership and be more likely to purchase an electric vehicle.

3. Allotments
The Parish Council has significant excess demand for Allotments and the Northern Open Space would offer an opportunity to meet that demand. It is therefore requested that consideration is given to one third of the northern field being allocated to the Parish Council for allotments. The eastern part of the field would meet this need and have minimal effect on the proposed layout of the site.

4. Sustainable Design.
The Reserve Matter Application makes no reference to compliance with HNP Policy 5 – Enabling Zero Carbon nor Policy DP39 of the District Plan – Sustainable Design and Construction. This is a gross oversight and the development must maximise energy efficiency to meet the net zero obligation set by MHCLG on 10.02.21 for all building after 31.12.20.

5. Character and Design
It is considered that the proposed housing designs are lacking in interest and variety and are of limited character. The application is therefore contrary to Policy DP26: Character and Design of the District Plan and Policy 9: Character and Design of the Hassocks Neighbourhood Plan; and not in alignment with the Mid Sussex Design Guide. It is felt the designs could be improved upon to create a far more pleasing and interesting development for residents.
It is also considered that the development site provides insufficient public green space.

6. Layout
The affordable housing is located very close together rather than distributed evenly throughout the site which would be a more acceptable proposal.

7. Existing Hedgerow
Clarification is sought as to the proposals for the hedgerow which borders the southern edge of the development. It is unclear from the documentation whether the hedgerow falls within the boundary of the development or is under the ownership of the existing properties. It is also unclear whether this hedgerow is to be maintained in its entirety.
A robust hedge is necessary to protect the privacy and boundary of the existing housing and additional planting maybe required to ensure this.

8. Community Funding
It is requested that the Community Building Contribution from the development is prioritised for improvements to the hall at St Francis Church, Priory Road, Hassocks which is in close proximity to the proposed development and highly likely to be used by residents living there.

Cllr IW left the meeting.

DM/21/2572 Far Meadows 97 Mackie Avenue Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8NJ Erection of a single storey pitched/flat roof rear extension. (LDC). Response: Noted

DM/21/2697 3 Ewart Close Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8FJ (T1 Yew) and (T2 Sycamore) Reduce canopy to both trees by 1.5m. Lift both canopies by 2m. Remove Ivy growth. Response: Awaiting Tree Warden’s report.

DM/21/2651 17 Clayton Avenue Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8HD Construction of a single storey rear/flank extension to existing dwelling. (LDC). Response: Noted

DM/21/2716 18 Keymer Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8AN Change of use of 18 Keymer Road (Use Class E) to a beauty and tanning salon (Sui Generis). Response: RECOMMEND APPROVAL.

DM/21/2787 60 Dale Avenue Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8LS Extension and conversion of existing house to provide accommodation to the rear and in the roofspace. Response: RECOMMEND REFUSAL. The proposed application is overbearing and detrimental to the street scene and is therefore contrary to Policy DP26: Character and Design of the District Plan and Policy 9: Character and Design of the Hassocks Neighbourhood Plan. Furthermore the application does not make any reference to compliance with Policy 5, Enabling Zero Carbon, of the Hassocks Neighbourhood Plan or DP 39, Sustainable Design and Construction, of the District Plan. It was also noted that the plans of the proposed elevations did not appear to show the proposed dormers on the side elevations nor the existing chimney.

Cllr Carolyn Barton left the meeting for the consideration of the next item.

DM/21/2764 3 Highlands Close Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8LD Single storey pitched/flat roof /rear extension. Response: RECOMMEND APPROVAL. The applicant is advised that Government has committed to adopt a ‘Future Buildings Standard’ during 2021 which will change the Building Regulations requirements for alterations and extensions to homes to bring these alterations closer to that of a ‘zero energy building’. This is supported by Policy 5 ‘Enabling Zero Carbon’ of the Hassocks Neighbourhood Plan which states that proposals that modify existing buildings (including extensions) should seek to maximise the inclusion of energy-saving measures and renewable energy generation. Energy saving measures include floor, roof and wall insulation, and low u-value windows (which may need to be triple glazed). These requirements may require amendments to your design which could affect the drawings submitted for planning permission. The applicant may wish to note that alterations that are built to a Nearly Zero Energy standard, are unlikely to need further retrofitting to minimise the carbon emissions that the nation is required to reduce to zero by 2050. As retrofitting an existing home to be highly energy efficient is more complex than doing so for a new building, applicants may wish to look at the ‘EnerPHit’ standard that the Government is understood to be considering as the applicable “Nearly Zero Energy’ standard in this context, or at the Architypes published by the London Energy Transformation Initiative for u-values for your extension walls, windows etc. and for ventilation and overheating prevention standards to be achieved.

Cllr Barton re-joined the meeting.

DM/21/2804 4 Ewart Close Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8FJ T1 – Holm Oak – Reduce crown by 1.5m. Response: Awaiting Tree Warden’s report.

P21/56 APPLICATIONS FOR DISCHARGE OF PLANNING CONDITIONS. None.

P21/57 It was noted that the observations on the planning issues as recorded above be submitted to the relevant Planning Authority for consideration in line with the Parish Council’s Standing Orders.

P21/58 PLANNING AUTHORITY DECISION NOTICES

The following decisions were noted:              

Application details	Hassocks PC recommendation to Planning Authority	Planning Authority Decision (MSDC/SDNP)
SDNP/21/02759/FUL Clayton Woods Natural Burial Ground, Brighton Road, Hassocks.	Recommend Approval	Permission Granted
DM/21/2221 23 Sycamore Way, Hassocks BN6 8YH	Recommend Approval	Permission Granted
DM/21/2281 31 Church Mead, Hassocks BN6 8BW	Recommend Approval	Permission Granted
DM/21/2086 27 Queens Drive, Hassocks BN6 8DF	Recommend Approval	Permission Granted
DM/21/2088 49 London Road, Hassocks BN6 9NU	Recommend Approval	Permission Granted
DM/21/1392 31 Keymer Road, Hassocks BN6 8AG	Recommend Approval	Permission Granted
DM/21/1590 4 Lagwood Close, Hassocks BN6 8HZ	Recommend Approval	Permission Granted

 The following notifications of Certificate of Lawful Use or Development (LDC), General Permitted Development (GDP) and/or Prior Approval were noted:

Application details	Hassocks PC recommendation to Planning Authority	Planning Authority Decision (MSDC/SDNP)
DM/21/2241 31 Church Mead, Hassocks BN6 8BW (LDC)	Noted	Certificate of Lawful Development issued
DM/21/1992 29 Bonny Wood Road, Hassocks BN6 8HP (LDC)	Noted	Certificate of Lawful Development issued
DM/21/2393 118 Grand Avenue, Hassocks BN6 8DG (GDP)	Not consulted	Prior Approval not required.

The following notifications of Withdrawal of Application were noted

Application details	Hassocks PC recommendation to Planning Authority
DM/21/2243 46 London Road, Hassocks, BN6 9NU (LDC)	Noted
DM/21/1332 Former site of 36 Keymer Road, Hassocks	Recommend Refusal

 P21/59 Urgent Matters at the discretion of the Chairman for noting and/or inclusion on a future agenda.  Cllr Bob Brewer apologised for not sending his apologies in advance of missing the previous meeting.

P21/60 DATE OF NEXT MEETING.   Tuesday 31 August at 7.30pm. To be held remotely.

There being no other business the Chair closed the meeting at 8.40pm.