Planning Committee

Minutes

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the PLANNING COMMITTEE Meeting held on Monday 19 February 2024 at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre, Adastra Park, Hassocks

Attendees: Parish Councillors: Cllr Kristian Berggreen (Chair), Cllr Robert Brewer,
Cllr Bill Hatton and Cllr Don McBeth

In Attendance: Deputy Clerk – Tracy Forte.  Cllr Lesley Cruickshank-Robb

P23/148 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE. Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Carolyn Barton. Absent without apology Cllr Angus Neil.

P23/149 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST.

P23/150 MINUTES. It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 29 January 2024 (not 18 December as listed on the Agenda) be signed by the Chair as a true and accurate record of the meeting.

P23/151 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.  There were no members of the public present.

P23/152 APPLICATIONS

DM/23/3211 44 Ockley Lane Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8BD Conversion and extension of existing 2-bed bungalow to 4-bed house. Demolition of existing rear conservatory and replaced with new habitable rooms, conversion, extension and remodelling of existing bungalow roof to accommodate 2 no additional bedrooms. (Amended Plans 25.01.2024). Response: RECOMMEND REFUSAL.  The Parish Council’s comments remain unchanged. This proposed application represents overdevelopment of the site, being overbearing and unneighbourly. The design is also out of keeping with adjacent properties and is detrimental to the street scene. Therefore it is considered that this application is contrary to Policy DP26: Character and Design of the District Plan and Policy 9: Character and Design of the Hassocks Neighbourhood Plan.

DM/24/0179 10 Downs View Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8HJ Removal of existing conservatory, erection of single-storey 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.

DM/24/0252 45 The Quadrant Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8BS Proposed loft conversion with hip to gable roof conversion, rear dormer and front rooflights. Installation of renewable energy panels on front roof slope. (LDC). Response: NOTED

SDNP/23/05134/FUL Ditchling Rugby Club, Keymer Road, Ditchling, East Sussex Engineering works, to consist of re-profiling of site and realignment of pitch, new drainage system, creation of new access from Clayton Road leading to new parking area, erection of groundsman’s store/facilities, associated landscaping, and extension to the existing allowed playing season. Response: NOTED

P23/153 APPLICATIONS FOR DISCHARGE OF PLANNING CONDITIONS.

DM/24/0290 Land To The Rear Of Friars Oak London Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9NA  Discharge of Condition 9 relating to planning application DM/19/1897.

DM/24/0287 Land To The Rear Of Friars Oak London Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9NA Discharge of Condition 13 relating to planning application DM/19/1897.

DM/24/0292 Land To The Rear Of Friars Oak London Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9NA Discharge of Condition 5 relating to planning application DM/21/2628.

DM/24/0286 Land To The Rear Of Friars Oak London Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9NA Discharge of Condition 2 relating to planning application DM/21/2628.

DM/24/0289  Land To The Rear Of Friars Oak London Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9NA  Discharge of Condition 8 relating to planning application DM/21/2628.

DM/24/0291 Land To The Rear Of Friars Oak London Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9NA  Discharge of Condition 1 relating to planning application DM/21/2628

The Committee noted all applications for discharge.

P23/153.1 There had been some queries regarding the protection of the boundary hedge which runs along the southern border of the Land to the Rear of Friars Oak.  It had previously been stated that this hedgerow would be conserved and Members agreed it would be prudent to confirm with MSDC that this position had not changed.  Therefore the Deputy Clerk was requested to write a letter to the MSDC Planning Offer to seek assurance that the hedgerow would remain untouched.

P23/154 RESOLVED that the observations on the planning issues as agreed above be submitted to the relevant Planning Authority for consideration.

P23/155 PLANNING AUTHORITY DECISION NOTICES

The following decisions were noted:

Application details	Hassocks PC recommendation to Planning Authority	Planning Authority Decision (MSDC/SDNP)
DM/24/0006 Communal Land at 2 to 18 Orchard Lane, Hassocks	Recommend Refusal	Permission Granted
DM/23/3241 79 Ockley Lane, Hassocks BN6 8NT	Recommend Approval	Permission Granted
DM/23/2989 3 Ockenden Way, Hassocks BN6 8HS	Recommend Approval	Permission Granted
DM/23/3223 18 The Fairway, Hassocks BN6 9JU	Recommend Approval	Permission Granted
DM/23/3132 29 Damian Way, Hassocks BN6 8BH	Recommend Approval	Permission Granted
SDNP/24/00100/TCA Clayton Court Farmhouse, Underhill Lane, Clayton BN6 9PJ	Recommend Approval T1,T2 & T4 Recommend Refusal T3	No Objection raised

 

The following withdrawals of applications were noted:

DM/23/3106 75 The Quadrant, Hassocks BN6 8BS      (HPC Rec Approval)

DM/23/3108 73 The Quadrant, Hassocks BN6 8BS  (HPC Rec Approval)

DM/23/3206 20 Newlands Close, Hassocks BN6 8BQ (HPC Noted)

SM/23/2741 White Lodge, Ockley lane, Hassocks, Burgess Hill (HPC Rec Refusal)

P23/156 TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE APPLICATION.  Members had no objections to the following temporary road closure application:

Semley Road (Semley Road north of side road to La Quinta/Guide hut) from 09:00hrs & 20:00hrs Sunday 5 May 2024 or such lesser period as may be required for an annual street party to take place.

P23/157 Urgent Matters at the discretion of the Chairman for noting and/or inclusion on a future agenda.  Cllr Robert Brewer drew Members attention to a serious car accident which had occurred on London Road recently just south of the entrance to Shepherds Walk.   Members noted that concerns had previously been raised about speeding along this stretch of road and the potential increasing risks from the additional junctions being created onto London Road from the new housing developments nearby.

P23/158 DATE OF NEXT MEETING. Monday 11 March 2024.

There being no other business the Chair closed the meeting at 8.10pm.