Planning Committee

Minutes

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL

Draft Minutes of the PLANNING COMMITTEE Meeting held on Monday 22 April 2024 at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre, Adastra Park, Hassocks

Attendees: Parish Councillors: Cllr Kristian Berggreen (Chair), Cllr Robert Brewer, Cllr Carolyn Barton, Lesley Cruickshank-Robb and Cllr. Don McBeth.

In Attendance: Deputy Clerk – Tracy Forte.

P23/181 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE. Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Bill Hatton and Angus Neil.

P23/182 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST.  Cllr Kristian Berggreen informed the Committee that as he also sits on the MSDC Planning Committee in his capacity as a District Councillor, in the interests of transparency and given the nature of application DM/24/0367 Friars Oak Farmhouse London Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9NA, he would not participate in a vote on this application.

P23/183 MINUTES. It was noted that the minute numbers on the last page were incorrect due to an omission and it was therefore agreed that these should be amended to reflect the correct numbering.

P23/183.1 It was RESOLVED that subject to the amendment as agreed above, the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 2 April 2024 be signed by the Chair as a true and accurate record of the meeting.

P23/184 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.  There were five members of the public present who confirmed that they did not wish to speak, but were attending to hear the committee’s recommendation on application DM/24/0367 Friars Oak Farmhouse London Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9NA.

P23/185 The Chair proposed considering application DM/24/0367 Friars Oak Farmhouse London Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9NA first which was agreed by the Committee.

APPLICATIONS

DM/24/0367 Friars Oak Farmhouse London Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9NA Demolition of Friars Oak Farmhouse and associated ancillary outbuildings, and proposed erection of 20 dwellings with associated access and landscaping. Cllr Berggreen did not vote on this application. Response: RECOMMEND REFUSAL. The Committee supported many of the comments as submitted by local residents. This application is considered to be contrary to Policy 14 of the Hassocks Neighbourhood Plan: Residential development within and adjoining the built-up area boundary of Hassocks and Policy 9: Character and Design.   In addition to the 165 dwellings already on Hassocks Golf Course, Hassocks also currently has a further 130 dwellings being built on the Land to the rear of the Friars Oak and 500 dwellings at Ockley Park; it seems reasonable therefore, to pose the question as to whether there is a need for an additional 20 properties in such close proximity?

Furthermore, the Council has already previously expressed concerns about the impact of additional access points and increased traffic on the London Road. This stretch of road has seen a notable growth in vehicular movement, which will be intensified with the 130 dwellings being built on the Land to the Rear of Friars Oak.   The speed and volume of traffic along London Road, alongside traffic entering and exiting the aforementioned developments pose an ever increasing safety risk for pedestrians crossing the road, as well as road users.  An additional 20 dwellings will exacerbate this risk further.

It is also considered that the proposal to accommodate 20 properties on this site represents overdevelopment of the site and is unneighbourly; with the current residents likely to be negatively impacted by an increase in traffic and parked cars within the development.

All members of the public left the meeting.

DM/24/0276 31 Damian Way Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8BH  To raise the height of the existing garage roof by changing it from a flat roof to a pitched roof. (Updated proposed side elevation received 28.03.2024). 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/24/0807 Weald Lawn Tennis And Squash Rackets Club South Bank Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8JP Provision of 2 floodlit Padel courts including enclosure/roof structure to replace an existing all-weather tennis court. Erection of 3.1m acoustic fences to south and west of padel courts. Response: RECOMMEND APPROVAL with due consideration for neighbours regarding noise levels and support for the recommendation made by the MSDC Environmental Protection Officer that the ‘restrictions on the evening timings for use of the courts, as offered by the applicant, are enshrined in a condition included in the decision notice.’

DM/24/0424 Land To The Rear Of Ockley Grange Ockley Lane Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8NU Proposed erection of detached single storey 1 bed building to be used as a self-contained holiday let. 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/24/0776 69 Chestnut Drive Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8AZ Part garage conversion to habitable accommodation and 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/23/2697 8 Wentworth Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9SQ To extend the existing front and side garden fence forward and create two new access gates (Corrected and amended plans received on 5 April 2024). Response: RECOMMEND REFUSAL.  The Council’s previous comments remain unchanged:  The proposed application would be 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.

DM/24/0714 52 Parklands Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8JZ Proposed single storey rear extension and rear deck. Response: RECOMMEND REFUSAL.  This application presents potential overlooking issues and therefore is considered unneighbourly.

DM/24/0787 39 London Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9NU Proposed Drop kerb/ crossover to provide new Vehicular Access onto London Rd. (A273). Response: RECOMMEND APPROVAL

P23/186 APPLICATIONS FOR DISCHARGE OF PLANNING CONDITIONS.  The following application was noted.

DM/24/0712 Land To The Rear Of Friars Oak London Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9NA Discharge of Condition 11 relating to planning reference DM/21/2628.

P23/187 RESOLVED that the observations on the planning issues as agreed above be submitted to the relevant Planning Authority for consideration.

P23/188 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/Notification were noted:

P23/189 MSDC Licensing Consultation.   Members were invited to review the Mid Sussex District Council Draft Sex Establishment Licensing Policy Consultation and consider if any representation was required for submission on behalf of Hassocks Parish Council.  Members noted the consultation.

P23/190 East Sussex, South Downs and Brighton & Hove Waste and Minerals Local Plan Revised Policies – Publication of Inspectors’ Report (Regulation 25).  Members were invited to note correspondence received regarding the above report. Members noted the correspondence and associated documentation.

P23/191 Urgent Matters at the discretion of the Chairman for noting and/or inclusion on a future agenda.  There were no urgent matters.

P23/192 DATE OF NEXT MEETING. Monday 13 May 2024.

There being no other business the Chair closed the meeting at 8.25pm.