Planning Committee

Minutes

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the PLANNING COMMITTEE Meeting held on Monday 24 July 2023 at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre, Adastra Park, Hassocks

Attendees: Parish Councillors: Cllr Carolyn Barton, Cllr Robert Brewer, Cllr Bill Hatton and Cllr Angus Neil.

In Attendance: Deputy Clerk – Tracy Forte.

P23/39 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE. Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Kristian Berggreen and Don McBeth.

P23/40 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST. Cllr Brewer declared a personal interest in item 5.5 DM/23/1735 10 Bankside Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8EL.

P23/41 MINUTES.

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 3 July 2023 be signed by the Chair as a true and accurate record of the meeting.

P23/42 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. There were no members of the public present.

P23/43 APPLICATIONS

DM/23/1669 The Beaumont 8 Ockley Lane Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8BA Convert current double garage to combined home office and storage and removal of adjoining summer house. 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/23/1671 102 Grand Avenue Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8DG Thermal insulation retrofit, new double and triple glazed windows, replacement front door, photovoltaic panels on rear facing dormer flat roof and existing chimney removed. Pebble dash to be replaced with aggregate render. Response: RECOMMEND APPROVAL.

DM/22/0524 59 London Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9NU Dropped kerb to create vehicle crossover and parking area at the front of 59 London Road. (Corrected location plan and Certificate B received 16.06.2023). Response: The Parish Council’s previous comments remain unchanged

DM/23/1726 5 Clayton Avenue Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8HB Proposed shed removal and garage erection with tiled pitched roof and breeze block walls with wood cladding. Response: RECOMMEND APPROVAL.

DM/23/1735 10 Bankside Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8EL Garage conversion. Cllr Brewer did not participate in the consideration or voting for this application.  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/23/1779 Station Goods Yard Keymer Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8JA Mixture of 17 trees – cut back the overhang branches to boundary fence line. Crack Willow – reduce branches from the phone lines. Response:  This application lacks sufficient information for a recommendation to be made.  Whilst the Parish Council appreciates the need to cut back some of the trees, there is some concern about the risk of creating an imbalance.  Therefore the Council requests that the Tree Officer ensures that any cutting back does not exceed what is deemed necessary or leaves the trees imbalanced.

DM/23/1487 26 Priory Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8PS Two story extension to the front and side of the property. 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/23/1762 10 Downs View Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8HJ Removal of existing conservatory, raising of existing roof, addition of front and rear dormers. 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/23/1799 29A Keymer Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8AB Proposed conversion from existing two storey three-bedroom single maisonette into two new single storey one-bedroom flats.  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/23/1461 5 Adastra Avenue Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8DP Proposed rear and side single-storey extensions and alterations (Amended plans received 10.07.2023). 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/23/02634/FUL Land West of The Drove Ditchling East Sussex Use of land as a Camp Site at weekends between May and August Inclusive to include bank holidays, with set-up Friday and take-down Monday and an area retained for horse keeping. Response: The Committee did not feel it had sufficient knowledge of the immediate area and potential impact on local residents to make a comment on this application.  It was agreed that Ditchling Parish Council were much better placed to make a recommendation, therefore it was agreed that no response would be submitted from Hassocks Parish Council.

SDNP/23/02524/FUL Millbrook Underhill Lane Clayton West Sussex BN6 9PJ Retention of log cabin within residential curtilage and change of use to one bedroom unit of holiday accommodation. Response: The Parish Council’s previous comments remain unchanged.

P23/44 APPLICATIONS FOR DISCHARGE OF PLANNING CONDITIONS. None

P23/45 RESOLVED that the observations on the planning issues as agreed above be submitted to the relevant Planning Authority for consideration.

P23/46 PLANNING AUTHORITY DECISION NOTICES

The following decisions were noted:

The committee noted that the following Appeal had been withdrawn:

AP/23/0036 (DM/21/1653) Byanda, Brighton Road Hassocks.

P23/47 APPEAL NOTIFICATION.  SDNP/22/05658/FUL Land West of The Drove Ditchling East Sussex. Use of land as a Camp Site between April and September inclusive, each year; Tents and Supporting Infrastructure to be in Situ Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays only, and removed at all other times. Including an area retained for horse keeping. Members were invited to note and consider correspondence received from the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) regarding the above appeal hearing. (Further details in Appendix 1 of the agenda).   This was noted by the Committee.

P23/48 NEW STREET NAMES.  Members noted and supported the following suggestions for street names on the development to the rear of the Friars Oak which had been submitted to Mid Sussex District Council:

• Azor – former medieval landowner
• Watteville – former medieval landowner
• Fleur de Lis (or Lily) – French national flower
• Cornflower – German national flower
• Bluebell – wildflower
• Primrose- wildflower.

P23/48.1 Members were invited to agree the name of Pauline Thaw as a potential future road name.

Pauline Thaw was a former resident who had been a leading voice for elderly residents, and in getting the Age Concern Day centre built.   Members were in full support of this proposal.

P22/49 Urgent Matters at the discretion of the Chairman for noting and/or inclusion on a future agenda.  There were no urgent matters.

P23/50 DATE OF NEXT MEETING. 14 August 2023

There being no other business the Chair closed the meeting at 8.30pm