Planning Committee

Agenda

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL

To:   All Members of the Planning Committee (Cllrs Kristian Berggreen (Chair), Robert Brewer, Lesley Cruickshank-Robb, Bill Hatton, Don McBeth and Angus Neil) with copies to all other Councillors for information.

A meeting of the PLANNING COMMITTEE will be held on 15 July 2024 at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre, Adastra Park, Hassocks.

Parish Clerk 9 July 2024

AGENDA

1. TO ACCEPT APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

2. TO ACCEPT DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST. Disclosure by Councillors of personal and/or pecuniary interests in matters on the agenda and whether the Councillors regard their interest as prejudicial/pecuniary under the terms of the Code of Conduct

3. ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR

4. MINUTES. To accept the Minutes of the meeting held on 24 June 2024 (previously circulated).

5. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

6. APPLICATIONS (copies of each application can be viewed online via the Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC) Websitehttps://pa.midsussex.gov.uk/online-applications/

6.1 DM/24/1565 1 Newlands Close Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8BG Proposed rear single storey extension with pitched roof. New high level slot window to ground floor of existing external side wall. Loft conversion. Existing pitched roof to be extended to a gable ended pitched roof with velux rooflights to front pitch. Rear flat roof dormer with new windows to rear external wall and hung tiling.

6.2 DM/23/2837 New Close Farmhouse London Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9ND 62 New solar panels to be sighted in the field of New Close Farmhouse, in the grounds of a listed building. (Updated application type and plans).

7. APPLICATIONS FOR DISCHARGE OF PLANNING CONDITIONS. None

8. DECISION NOTICES.

9. MID SUSSEX DISTRICT COUNCIL LOCAL LIST REVIEW. Members are requested to note correspondence from MSDC (Appendix 1) inviting comments on a draft copy of the new Local List along with templates of the BNG (Biodiversity Net Gain) Statement and Self-build and Custom Build forms (distributed as background papers).

10. SOUTH DOWNS LOCAL PLAN REVIEW. Members are invited to note correspondence from the South Downs National Park Authority and to consider whether the Council wishes to provide any feedback. (Appendix 2).

11. MID SUSSEX DISTRICT PLAN. Members are invited to note that MSDC has confirmed the draft District Plan 2021-2039 has been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate (PINs) for Examination in Public. It is anticipated that the Examination will take place around late October / early November 2024.

12. URGENT MATTERS at the discretion of the Chairman for noting and/or inclusion on a future agenda.

13. Date of Next Meeting. 5 August 2024 at 7.30pm

Please Note
All members of the public are welcome to attend meetings of the Parish Council and its Committees.   Item 5 – a period of 15 minutes will be set aside for the public statements and questions relating to the published non-confidential business of the Meeting.
It may be necessary to consider particular items in confidential session and where this arises, these items will be considered at the end of the agenda.

FILMING, RECORDING OF COUNCIL MEETINGS AND USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
During this meeting members of the public may film or record the Committee and officers from the public area only providing it does not disrupt the meeting. The Confidential section of the meeting may not be filmed or recorded. If a member of the public objects to being recorded, the person(s) filming must stop doing so until that member of the public has finished speaking. The use of social media is permitted but members of the public are requested to switch their mobile devices to silent for the duration of the meeting.


Appendix 1

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL

To:      Planning Committee                                                                                 

Date: 15 July 2024

Contacts for this report: Deputy Clerk

Subject: Agenda Item 9 – MID SUSSEX DISTRICT COUNCIL LOCAL LIST REVIEW


MID SUSSEX DISTRICT COUNCIL

Dear Sir/Madam

Review of Mid Sussex District Council’s Local Validation List for Validation of Planning Applications (May 2024)

Since 2008 local planning authorities have been required to publish a list of information they require to validate the planning applications that they receive. Mid Sussex District’s Local List was adopted in December of 2010. This validation list details specific local validation requirement for applications made in Mid Sussex District. Provision of local information requirements is one of the requirements for a valid planning application as detailed in the National Planning Policy Framework.

The government requires local planning authorities to review local information requirements every two years. In addition, since its adoption in 2010, there have been a significant number of changes to planning legislation, policy and guidance. Mid Sussex Local List was previously reviewed in September 2022 and it is now considered timely to review MSDC’s current local validation requirements.

This letter invites your comments on our final draft, as amended by suggestions made by yourselves in the first consultation. Additions and amendments have been made in red so it easier for everyone to see exactly what the new additions are. We have an entirely new section called Biodiversity Net Gain that hasn’t been highlighted in red.

The consultation process

The consultation period for comments on this final draft run from the date of this letter to 31st July after which point we cannot accept any more comments.

You may comment upon our current local list by email to locallist@midsussex.gov.uk

After the consultation period MSDC’s Local List review team will consider all the comments received and amend the Local List as appropriate. Once approved this will replace the current Local List and will form the basis on which planning application are deemed valid by Mid Sussex District planning authority.

Local List

Our current local list is located on our website at the following link: Validation criteria for planning applications (Including Technical Details Consent) (midsussex.gov.uk)

Biodiversity Net Gain

As part of our validation requirements, we will now require applicants to complete a BNG Statement for BNG consideration and a Self-build and Custom Build Statement for those considering Self/Custom Build, dependent on the type of development. I enclose a template of both for your consideration.

Please may I take the opportunity to thank you in anticipation of your co-operation and contribution during this process.

Yours faithfully

Tom Gardner

Tom Gardner BSc (Hons)

Team Leader

Planning & Building Control Service Support


Appendix 2

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL

To:      Planning Committee                                                                                 

Date: 15 July 2024

Contacts for this report: Deputy Clerk    

Subject: Agenda Item 10 – South Downs Local Plan Review


Dear Consultee,

South Downs Local Plan Review is underway – you can get involved

We have begun work on reviewing the South Downs Local Plan to make sure it’s up to date and addresses important issues including nature recovery, climate change and supporting local communities to thrive.

From 8 July to 16 September, we are undertaking an early participation stage on the Local Plan Review by inviting feedback on the scope of the review and how people would like to be involved in preparing the new Local Plan.

There are three project documents we are inviting comments on at this stage:

  • Project Initiation Document (PID) – this defines the scope and issues for the plan, the resources needed to deliver it and the risks associated with the project.
  • Local Development Scheme (LDS) ­– this includes a timetable for the preparation and adoption of the Local Plan.
  • Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) – this sets out how we will consult with all stakeholders, including local communities, business, and public bodies, on planning matters.  We are proposing changes to the SCI on how we consult on draft plans, including key principles and introducing the preparation of bespoke ‘Community Involvement Plans’ for separate planning policy consultations.

These documents are available to view and comment on at: https://sdnpalocalplanreview.commonplace.is/  Here you can also complete the Local Plan Review survey.  This asks for feedback on the scope of the Local Plan Review and what important issues it should address.  We are also seeking feedback on the National Park Vision 2050, which will be considered as part of the Partnership Management Review later this year.

There is also a “youth survey” for 13 to 25-year-olds, with the chance to enter a prize draw for a £50 gift voucher.

We anticipate that the formal (Regulation 18) consultation on the Local Plan Review will begin early next year.

The planning policy team will be attending events within and around the National Park throughout the summer.  If you have an event or can distribute our Local Plan Review postcards or posters, do get in touch and we will send these to you.  Please do share the consultation hub and surveys on your social media and via your networks.

We look forward to receiving your feedback,

Planning Policy Team
South Downs National Park Authority

 

Minutes

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the PLANNING COMMITTEE Meeting held on Monday 15 July 2024 at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre, Adastra Park, Hassocks

Attendees: Parish Councillors: Cllr Robert Brewer, Cllr Lesley Cruickshank-Robb and Cllr Don McBeth.

In Attendance: Deputy Clerk – Tracy Forte

P24/28 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE. Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Kristian Berggreen, Bill Hatton and Angus Neil.

P24/29 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST.  There were no declarations of interest.

P24/30 ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.  Members felt that they would prefer to wait until there was a greater committee presence before making any nominations or decisions on the Chair or Vice Chair.  Therefore it was proposed and agreed that the election of a Chair and Vice Chair should be deferred until the next meeting.

P24/31 In the absence of the outgoing Chair and Vice Chair, Cllr Robert Brewer indicated that he would be happy to act as Chair for the current meeting.  All Members present supported this and Cllr Robert Brewer was appointed as Chair for the meeting.

P24/32 MINUTES. It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 24 June 2024 be signed by the Chair as a true and accurate record of the meeting.

P24/33 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. There were no members of the public present.

P24/34 APPLICATIONS

DM/24/1565 1 Newlands Close Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8BG Proposed rear single storey extension with pitched roof. New high level slot window to ground floor of existing external side wall. Loft conversion. Existing pitched roof to be extended to a gable ended pitched roof with velux rooflights to front pitch. Rear flat roof dormer with new windows to rear external wall and hung tiling. 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 62 New solar panels to be sighted in the field of New Close Farmhouse, in the grounds of a listed building. (Updated application type and plans). Response: Whilst the Parish Council previously Recommended Approval for this application, in the light of the Conservation Officer’s report, the Council RECOMMENDS REFUSAL pending confirmation from the Conservation Officer that she is satisfied that all matters raised in her report have been adequately addressed.

P24/35 APPLICATIONS FOR DISCHARGE OF PLANNING CONDITIONS. None.

P24/36 RESOLVED that the observations on the planning issues as agreed above be submitted to the relevant Planning Authority for consideration.

P24/37 PLANNING AUTHORITY DECISION NOTICES

The following decisions were noted:

Application details Hassocks PC recommendation to Planning Authority Planning Authority Decision (MSDC/SDNP)
DM/24/0714 52 Parklands Road, Hassocks BN6 8JZ Recommend Refusal Permission Granted
DM/24/1476 6 Beaconhurst, Hassocks Recommend Approval Permission Granted
DM/24/1276 13 Priory Road, Hassocks Recommend Approval Permission Granted
DM/24/1247 The Gate House, 26B Lodge Lane, Hassocks Recommend Approval Permission Granted
DM/24/1362 Rear of 13 and 14 Fir Tree, Hassocks No Objection Permission Granted
DM/24/1422 Westcroft, 9 Stanford Avenue, Hassocks Recommend Approval Permission Granted
DM/24/1299 5 Stonepound Ridge, Hassocks Recommend Approval Permission Granted

 

The following application withdrawals were noted

SDNP/24/01837/FUL Down Under, Lodge Lane, Hassocks

DM/24/0971 8 The Crescent, Hassocks.

P24/38 MID SUSSEX DISTRICT COUNCIL LOCAL LIST REVIEW.  Members were requested to note correspondence from MSDC (Appendix 1 of the agenda) inviting comments on a draft copy of the new Local List along with templates of the BNG (Biodiversity Net Gain) Statement and Self-build and Custom Build forms (distributed as background papers). This was noted by Members.

P24/39 SOUTH DOWNS LOCAL PLAN REVIEW. Members were invited to note correspondence from the South Downs National Park Authority and to consider whether the Council wishes to provide any feedback. (Appendix 2 of the agenda). This was noted by Members with a view to revisiting this item at a future date.

P24/40 MID SUSSEX DISTRICT PLAN. Members were invited to note confirmation from MSDC that the draft District Plan 2021-2039 has been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate (PINs) for Examination in Public. It is anticipated that the Examination will take place around late October / early November 2024. Members noted this information.

P24/41 DATE OF NEXT MEETING. Monday 5 August 2024 at 7.30pm

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