Planning Committee

Minutes

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Planning Committee Meeting held in the Parish Centre on Monday 7 June 2021 at 7.30pm

Attendees: Parish Councillors: Carolyn Barton, Kristian Berggreen (Chair), Leslie Campbell, and Nick Owens.

In Attendance: Deputy Clerk: Tracy Forte.

P21/14 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.  Cllrs Bob Brewer, Bill Hatton and Claire Tester.

P21/15 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST. None

P21/16 MINUTES.

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 17 May 2021, be signed by the Chair as a true and accurate record of the meeting.

P21/17 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.  There were no members of the public present.

P21/18 APPLICATIONS

DM/21/1232 27 Clayton Avenue Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8HD Willow, overhanging footpath and neighbouring garden (2 x stems) Reduce to approx. 3m in height – amended description 11.05.2021. Response: RECOMMEND APPROVAL.

DM/21/1392 31 Keymer Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8AG Erection of an open sided, single pitched roof shelter for outdoor seating. Response: RECOMMEND APPROVAL.

DM/21/0932 4 Fir Tree Way Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8BT Change of use of adjoining land to be used as residential relating to the property. Removal of existing garden wall and erection of new garden boundary wall. (amended plan 04.05.2021). Response: RECOMMEND APPROVAL.

DM/21/1547 26 Ann Close Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8NB Creation of new 2-bed bungalow property on land rear of 26 Ann Close. Response: RECOMMEND REFUSAL. The proposed application represents overdevelopment of the site even more so than the similar recently built dwelling at 1 Ann Close (DM/19/1008).  This site is slightly smaller and much shallower resulting in almost no private amenity space to the rear of proposed new dwelling.  The application 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 is not compliant with Policy 5, Enabling Zero Carbon, of the Hassocks Neighbourhood Plan or DP 39, Sustainable Design and Construction, of the District Plan. 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/21/1838 67 Downs View Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8HY Front porch, wrap around front single storey extension with double and single storey extension to the rear with a balcony and raised decking sections. Response: RECOMMEND APPROVAL subject to the resolution of any overlooking issues from the balcony which could impact on the privacy of neighbouring properties. 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/21/1784 55 Kings Drive Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8DY Single storey extension – squaring off existing extension and fitting of new pitched roof. Insertion of new fixed obscure glazed window to side of property. (LDC). Response: NOTED

DM/21/1791 14 Ewart Close Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8FJ Extension of existing garage to form new garden room / office space. Response: RECOMMEND APPROVAL subject to the use of thicker insulation to be more compliant with District Plan Policy DP 39, Sustainable Design and Construction, and Hassocks Neighbourhood Plan Policy 5, Enabling Zero carbon.

DM/21/1701 7 Bonny Wood Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8HP Forming brick cavity walls to enclose existing undercroft of first floor extension and alterations at ground floor to form kitchen/family room with separate utility room. (LDC). Response: NOTED

DM/21/1376 17 London Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9NT Two storey rear extension, demolish existing conservatory, removal of chimney, insertion of window to existing side elevation. (Amended Plans 25.05.2021). Response: RECOMMEND REFUSAL.  Despite the proposed amendments, this application continues to be unneighbourly and represents overdevelopment of the site, and is therefore contrary to Character and Design, Policy 9, of the Hassocks Neighbourhood Plan and Policy DP26 of the District Plan.  The Council’s original comments therefore remain unchanged.

DM/21/1787 20 Woodsland Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8HG Proposed replacement and extension of ground floor rear conservatory to create new garden room/home office. 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.

P21/19 APPLICATIONS FOR DISCHARGE OF PLANNING CONDITIONS. None

P21/20 RESOLVED that the observations on the planning issues as agreed above be submitted to the relevant Planning Authority for consideration.

P21/21 TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE APPLICATION.  Members were invited to consider whether Hassocks Parish Council wishes to make any comments regarding an application to Mid Sussex District Council for a Temporary Road Closure in Semley Road, Hassocks from 09.30hrs to 19.30hrs on Saturday 4th July 2021 for a street party to take place.  This application was supported by the Committee.

P21/22    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:

P21/23 Urgent Matters at the discretion of the Chairman for noting and/or inclusion on a future agenda.  It was noted that at the previous meeting of the Planning Committee, it was agreed that Cllr Claire Tester would report back after attending the Mid Sussex Site Allocations Examinations Hearing on 3 June 2021 relating to SA13 South of Folders Lane.

Cllr Tester had provided the following written report for Members.

This discussion took up the whole sitting day from 9:30am-3:30pm and can be viewed via the MSDC YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW9I9y-TZXZs6jOFmOgiPyQ

Understandably most of the discussion was about the impact on the site itself, which is within Burgess Hill’s boundary.  However the following matters were relevant to Hassocks:

• The potential for coalescence between Burgess Hill and Hassocks
• The impact on the setting of the South Downs National Park
• The impact on the local traffic system, especially the junctions of Keymer Road with Folders Lane and Keymer Road with Station Road.

Andrew Griffiths MP spoke in opposition to the development, and particularly raised the concern about the National Park becoming like Central Park in New York due to all the development around its boundary.  Interestingly when the Inspector asked where else the houses could go, Andrew intimated that there was further capacity for growth at Burgess Hill town centre (presumably above and beyond that already planned for).  Burgess Hill TC was well represented by its advocate Dr Ashley Bowes, planning consultant Nick Grace and transport consultant Roger New (ex ESCC Highways).  No other site has or is likely to take this much examination time which is a testament to the strength of feeling about its proposed allocation.

Members noted this feedback.

P21/24 DATE OF NEXT MEETING.   Wednesday 9 June 2021 at 6.30pm. This meeting to consider application DM/21/1653 Byanda Brighton Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9LX only.

There being no other business the Chair closed the meeting at 8.20 pm.