Planning Committee

Minutes

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the PLANNING COMMITTEE Meeting held on Monday 27 November 2023 at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre, Adastra Park, Hassocks

Attendees: Parish Councillors: Cllr Kristian Berggreen, Cllr Robert Brewer, Cllr Don McBeth and Cllr Bill Hatton.

In Attendance: Deputy Clerk – Tracy Forte.

P23/106 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE. Absent without apology Cllr Angus Neil.

P23/107 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST. Cllr Barton declared a non-pecuniary interest in application DM/23/2563 Adastra Hall Keymer Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8QH, Cllr Berggreen declared a non-pecuniary interest in DM/23/2372 Land At Wellhouse Lane Burgess Hill West Sussex and Cllr Hatton declared a non-pecuniary interest in applications DM/23/2899 45 Wilmington Close Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8QB and DM/23/2900 30 Wilmington Close Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8QB.

P23/108 MINUTES.

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 6 November 2023 be signed by the Chair as a true and accurate record of the meeting.

P23/109 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.  There were no members of the public present.

P23/110 APPLICATIONS

DM/23/2764 10 Downs View Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8HJ Removal of existing conservatory, erection of single storey rear extension (LDC). Response: NOTED

DM/23/2791 Land North Of Clayton Mills Hassocks West Sussex Variation of condition 9 relating to planning reference DM/21/2841. The proposal seeks to vary the approved house type drawings for specific plots within Phase 2 of this development, in order to make window and door amendments. Response: RECOMMEND APPROVAL.

DM/23/2687 Woodside Grange Woodsland Road Hassocks West Sussex Outline application to include access, layout and scale for two dwellings. Amended location and site plans received 02.11.2023. Response: RECOMMEND REFUSAL on access grounds. The Council’s response remains unchanged.  It is acknowledged that Woodside Grange is permitted full vehicular access via Public Rights of Way 5K and 11K, however this is for the one existing property.  The Council has significant concerns over this access being extended to three further properties thus increasing the amount of vehicular traffic on a public bridleway/footpath.  These additional dwellings should be accessed via a purpose built road, not a Public Right of Way.

DM/23/2372 Land At Wellhouse Lane Burgess Hill West Sussex Development of up to nine dwellings (Amended Location Plan and Certificate B 10/11/2023). Cllr Berggreen abstained from voting on this application. Response: RECOMMEND REFUSAL. Hassocks Parish Council’s response remains unchanged and the Council remains strongly opposed to this application.  This proposed application is on agricultural land outside of the built up area boundaries and is not contiguous with an existing built up area. It intrudes on the countryside and is in the local gap between Keymer/Hassocks and Burgess Hill and there is no safe pedestrian access from the site to local amenities Therefore the application is in conflict with District Plan policies DP6: Settlement Hierarchy, DP12: Protection and Enhancement of Countryside and DP15: New Homes in the Countryside and Hassocks Neighbourhood Plan policies: Policy 1: Local Gap, and Policy 14: Residential development within, and adjoining, the built up area boundary of Hassocks.

Furthermore, the proposed site is immediately adjacent to the boundary of the South Downs National Park and the building of up to nine additional dwellings in this rural area will negatively impact on the visual and special qualities of the Park including Dark Skies.  Hence the application is contrary to District Plan Policies DP18: Setting of the South Downs National Park and DP29: Noise, Air and Light Pollution and Hassocks Neighbourhood Plan Policy 6: Development Proposals affecting the South Downs National Park.

There is also considerable concern over the safety of vehicular access from Wellhouse Lane onto Ockley Lane.  The combination of poor visibility at the access point and the speed at which oncoming traffic travels along Ockley Lane already poses a challenge for vehicles entering and exiting Wellhouse Lane. To potentially double the number of vehicles using this access would increase the risk of an accident significantly.

DM/23/2857 11 Hamfield Drive Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9ZW Single storey rear in-fill extension to provide dining room and separate utility room (further to PD certificate DM/20/4551 – Single storey rear/side 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.

DM/23/2865 Land North Of Clayton Mills Hassocks West Sussex Variation of Condition 9 relating to DM/21/2841 to vary the approved house type drawings for specific plots within Phase 2 as well as an altered site layout for Phase 2. Response: RECOMMEND APPROVAL.

DM/23/2563 Adastra Hall Keymer Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8QH Variation of condition number 2 relating to application DM/23/0771 to amend the approved plans with the alteration of the side entrance porch. AMENDED PLANS received 14/11/2023 showing the proposed amendment to the side porch. Cllr Barton abstained from participating in any discussion and voting on this application. Response: RECOMMEND APPROVAL.

DM/23/2573 New Close Farm London Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9ND Variation of condition No: 2 relating to Planning Application DM/20/1384 in order to allow for the substitution of plans to change the appearance and usability of the previously approved workshop.  Response: RECOMMEND APPROVAL.

DM/23/2899 45 Wilmington Close Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8QB Two storey extension to the rear of existing detached property, together with raised patio and detached outbuilding (home office) within rear garden. 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.

DM/23/2837 New Close Farmhouse London Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9ND
61 New solar panels to be sighted in the field of New Close Farmhouse, in the grounds of a listed building. Response: RECOMMEND APPROVAL.

DM/23/2900 30 Wilmington Close Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8QB Proposed new pitched roof on existing extension, and incorporating amendments to existing first floor rear-facing windows. 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.

SDNP/23/04629/TCA Bankside Cottage, Underhill Lane, Clayton, West Sussex, BN6 9PJ 2no cherry – crown raise and reduce 2m (June 2024). 5no lime – crown raise and reduce 2 to 3m. Liburnum – remove deadwood reshape. Ghinko – crown raise and reduce 2 to 3m. Willow – repollard to previous pollard points. Apple – remove small oak and sucker (prunus) at base. Sycamore – roadside trees – reduce height by 4m, 3m lateral spread. Crown raise to 5.2m over highway, 2.4m within property. (UKPN need to inspect, TM/road closure needed for 1day). Response: NOTED.

P23/111 APPLICATIONS FOR DISCHARGE OF PLANNING CONDITIONS.  None.

P23/112 RESOLVED that the observations on the planning issues as agreed above be submitted to the relevant Planning Authority for consideration.

P23/113 PLANNING AUTHORITY DECISION NOTICES

The following decisions were noted:

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

P23/114 WSCC TRO CONSULTATION: HASSOCKS: A273 AND B2112 SPEED LIMITS. Members were invited to consider a proposed TRO for the reduction of speed limits on sections of the A273 and B2116 in Hassocks (Details included in Appendix 1 of the agenda).  https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/traffic-regulation-orders/.   Members noted the consultation and AGREED that Hassocks Parish Council offered its full support to the proposals.

P23/115 Urgent Matters at the discretion of the Chairman for noting and/or inclusion on a future agenda.  There were no urgent matters.

P23/116 DATE OF NEXT MEETING. Monday 18 December 2023.

There being no other business the Chair closed the meeting at 8 pm.