Planning Committee

Minutes

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the PLANNING COMMITTEE Meeting held on Monday 3 June 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

P24/01 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE. Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Kristian Berggreen.  Absent without apology – Cllrs Bill Hatton and Angus Neil.

P24/02 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST.  There were no declarations of interest.

P24/03 ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.  In the light of absences, it was proposed and agreed that the election of a Chair and Vice Chair should be deferred until the next meeting.

P24/04 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.

P24/05 MINUTES. It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 13 May 2024 be signed by the Chair as a true and accurate record of the meeting.

P24/06 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. There were no members of the public present.

P24/07 APPLICATIONS

DM/24/1140 5 Ewart Close Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8FJ 1 x Chestnut – Removal of 3 lower limbs. Response: The Council raised concerns over non-essential work being undertaken on a healthy and valuable tree.  Therefore it defers to the MSDC Tree Officer’s assessment and decision on this application.

DM/24/1099 24 Wilmington Close Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8QB Proposed single storey rear extension (orangery). 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/24/0971 8 The Crescent Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8RB New fence to the northern boundary.  Response: RECOMMEND APPROVAL.

DM/24/1075  9 North Court Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8JS Proposed single storey rear extension and conversion of rear half of garage into a habitable space.  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/24/1276 13 Priory Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8PS Proposed single-storey flat roof rear extension. Response: RECOMMEND REFUSAL.  The Council was unable to consider this application due to the absence of any plans and associated documentation for viewing on the Planning Portal.

SDNP/24/01837/FUL Down Under Lodge Lane Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8XP Proposed Change of Use of Holiday Let to 2 Bed Dwelling.  Response: RECOMMEND APPROVAL

SDNP/24/01815/FUL The Jacketings Underhill Lane Clayton West Sussex BN6 9PJ Erection of a replacement dwelling and associated works. Response: RECOMMEND REFUSAL.  The Council fully supports the concerns raised by the SDNPA Conservation Team.  The proposed dwelling is within the Clayton Conservation Area and is totally out of character with the locality.   The application is detrimental to the special qualities and features of both the Clayton Conservation Area and the South Downs National Park and is therefore contrary to Policy 6: Development Proposals Affecting the South Downs National Park, Policy 7: Development in Conservation Areas and Policy 9: Character and Design, of the Hassocks Neighbourhood Plan.

P24/08 APPLICATIONS FOR DISCHARGE OF PLANNING CONDITIONS.  None

P24/09 RESOLVED that the observations on the planning issues as agreed above be submitted to the relevant Planning Authority for consideration.

P24/10 PLANNING AUTHORITY DECISION NOTICES

The following decisions were noted:

P24/11 MID SUSSEX DISTRICT COUNCIL (MSDC) LOCAL LIST REVIEW SEPT 2024.  Members were invited to note correspondence from MSDC inviting comments on proposed changes to be included in MSDC’s Local List for September 2024.  Members noted the correspondence and had no comments to add.

P24/12 Urgent Matters at the discretion of the Chairman for noting and/or inclusion on a future agenda.  The Deputy Clerk informed the Committee of the following licensing application which had been received after the agenda had been published.  LI/24/0669 Aroma Café & Kitchen, 97-99 Keymer Road, Hassocks BN6 8QL.

Members noted the application.

P24/13 DATE OF NEXT MEETING. Monday 24 June 2024.

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