Planning Committee

Minutes

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the PLANNING COMMITTEE Meeting held on Monday 22 August 2022 at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre, Adastra Park, Hassocks

Attendees: Parish Councillors: Cllr Carolyn Barton, Cllr Kristian Berggreen Cllr Robert Brewer, Bill Hatton and Cllr Claire Tester.

In Attendance: Deputy Clerk – Tracy Forte

P22/44 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.  There were no apologies for absence.

P22/45 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST.  There were no declarations of interest.

P22/46 MINUTES. It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 1 August 2022 be signed by the Chair as a true and accurate record of the meeting.

P22/47 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.  There were no members of the public present.

P22/48 APPLICATIONS

DM/22/1700 Milton Cottage Keymer Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8QS Demolition of existing rear extension and conservatory and replacement with single-storey rear extension. (amended plans and description received 03/08). 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/22/2478 The Gables Brighton Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9LY  Siting of a mobile home in existing garden. (LDC). Response: NOTED

P22/49 APPLICATIONS FOR DISCHARGE OF PLANNING CONDITIONS. None

P22/50 RESOLVED that the observations on the planning issues as agreed above be submitted to the relevant Planning Authority for consideration.

P22/51 PLANNING AUTHORITY DECISION NOTICES

The following decisions were noted:

Application details	Hassocks PC recommendation to Planning Authority	Planning Authority Decision (MSDC/SDNP)
DM/22/0751 Land North of Clayton Mills, Hassocks	Recommend Approval	Permission Granted
DM/22/2045 54 Friars Oak Road, Hassocks	Recommend Approval	Permission Granted
DM/22/1924 14 Hurst Road, Hassocks	Recommend Approval	Permission Granted
DM/22/2138 53 Mackie Avenue, Hassocks	Recommend Approval	Permission Granted
SDNP/22/02690/FUL Land to the rear of 19 Beacon Hurst, Hassocks	Recommend Refusal	Permission Refused

The following notifications of Certificate of Lawful Use or Development (LDC), General Permitted Development (GDP) and/or Prior Approval were noted:

Application details	Hassocks PC recommendation to Planning Authority	Planning Authority Decision (MSDC/SDNP)
DM/22/2088 62 Oak Tree Drive, Hassocks	Noted	LDC Certificate issued
DM/22/1986 41 London Road, Hassocks	Noted	LDC Certificate issued
DM/22/2174 1A Bromley Close, Hassocks	Noted	LDC Certificate issued

The following were also noted:

Withdrawn Application:   DM/22/1762 14 London Road Hassocks. 

Tree Preservation Order Confirmation:  8 The Crescent, Hassocks – 2 Cupressus Macropcarpa

P22/52 TREE WARDEN.  Due to the planned retirement of the current volunteer Tree Warden later this year, Members were invited to consider the future of this role in relation to the Planning Committee.  Members were in full agreement that the Tree Warden had provided valuable support and advice to the Committee over the years in relation to Tree Planning Applications; and that this support has been greatly appreciated.  However it was noted that the role had become more difficult in recent times due to the lack of applicant details which limited the Warden in terms of making appointments to view trees.  Members also noted that they were able to make site visits to view trees which were visible from the street and that the development of Google Maps had provided another informative tool. Furthermore whilst Committee Members may not always have the depth of arboricultural knowledge of the Tree Warden, they were able to comment on the amenity value of a tree and that the MSDC Tree Officer would be able to make informed judgements based on health and condition.  Therefore it was agreed that whilst the advice from a Tree Warden has provided a useful and greatly appreciated additional level of information to the Planning Committee, given the changes which have taken place over time much of the role can now be met by Committee Members directly.  However it was agreed that this could be revisited in the future.

P22/53 Urgent Matters at the discretion of the Chairman for noting and/or inclusion on a future agenda.  There were no urgent matters.

P22/54 DATE OF NEXT MEETING. Monday 12 September 2022 at 7.30pm.

There being no other business the Chair closed the meeting at 8pm.