Planning Committee

Minutes

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the informal meeting of the PLANNING COMMITTEE held remotely on Tuesday 19 April 2022 at 7.30pm

Attendees: Parish Councillors: Carolyn Barton, Jane Baker, Kristian Berggreen (Chair), Leslie Campbell, Bill Hatton and Claire Tester.

In Attendance: Deputy Clerk: Tracy Forte.

P21/183 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE. There were no apologies for absence.

P21/184 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST. There were no declarations of interest.

P21/185 MINUTES. To note Minutes of the Meeting held on 28 March 2022 (previously circulated), for approval at the next Committee meeting.  These were noted by the Committee.

P21/186 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.  There were no members of the public present.

P21/187 APPLICATIONS

DM/22/0645 16 Damian Way Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8BH  First floor extension increasing size of master bedroom. Raising rear part of existing flat roof to garage to facilitate partial conversion. Amended Plans and supporting details received 07.04.2022. Response: RECOMMEND REFUSAL.  The proposed application is overbearing, unneighbourly 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.

DM/22/0884 15 Downs View Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8HJ New rear single storey extension, new first floor dormer, new rear patio and internal alterations. Response: The Parish Council considers that the plans for this application are unclear and inadequate and as such unfortunately do not provide enough information to allow an informed decision to be made.  Therefore the Council is not able to comment on this application.

DM/22/0942 17 Damian Way Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8BH Proposed single storey extension to the side and rear of the property. (LDC). Response: NOTED.

DM/22/1019 1 Hurst Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9NJ Demolition of existing conservatory. Roof conversion with front and rear dormers to create a first floor, front first floor extension and side gables. Two Juliette balconies to front elevation at first floor level. (The new proposals for this application are an amendment to previous application DM/22/0343). 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/22/0215 8 Bonny Wood Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8HR Proposed dormers, rear and side extensions. Amended plans received showing proposed increase in height of flue to rear extension and side extension to be set back from frontage of property. Amended plans received 04.04.2022 showing changes to front dormer windows, plus rear dormer window removed. 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/22/1070 14 Highlands Close Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8LD  Rear and side ground floor 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.

SDNP/22/00141/TCA Claylands Cottage, Underhill Lane, Clayton, West Sussex, BN6 9PJ T1 – Ash – fell. Response: RECOMMEND REFUSAL.  The ash is a mature but not overlarge tree apparently in very good health and with no sign of ash dieback. Whilst it is close to a summer house, it is some 7-9 metres from the house itself. The heave mentioned does not seem to be causing any problems. Therefore the Council considers that the reasons given for felling this tree are inadequate.

P21/188 APPLICATIONS FOR DISCHARGE OF PLANNING CONDITIONS. None

P21/189 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.

P21/190 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 were noted:

The following notification of APPEAL has been received: DM/21/3602 26 Ann Close, Hassocks BN6 8NB; Creation of new-build two-bedroom bungalow (C3).

P21/191 TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE APPLICATION.  Members were invited to consider the following two road closure applications and any comments that they may wish to make on behalf of Hassocks Parish Council.  The Committee noted both applications and had no comments to make.

Farnham Avenue, Hassocks from 10.00hrs to 22.00hrs on Sunday 5^th June 2022 for a Jubilee Street Party to take place.

Priory Road, Hassocks from 10.00hrs to 16.30hrs on Saturday 2 July 2022 for a Jubilee Street Party to take place.

P21/192 Urgent Matters at the discretion of the Chairman for noting and/or inclusion on a future agenda.  Members were invited to note a further Temporary Road Closure Application which had been received for The Quadrant, Hassocks from 07.30hrs to 23.30hrs on Friday 3 June 2022 for a Jubilee Street Party to take place.   This application was noted.

P21/193 DATE OF NEXT MEETING. Monday 9 May 2022 at 7.30pm.  This meeting will be held in the Council Chambers at the Parish Office.

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