Planning Committee

Minutes

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the PLANNING COMMITTEE  Meeting held on Monday 5^th August 2024 at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre, Adastra Park , Hassocks.

Attendees: Cllr Kristian Berggreen, Cllr Lesley Cruickshank-Robb and Cllr Don McBeth.

In Attendance: Parish Clerk and two members of the public

P24.42 TO ACCEPT APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Cllrs Bill Hatton, Robert Brewer and Angus Neil

P24.43 TO ACCEPT DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST.  Disclosure by Councillors of personal and/or pecuniary interests in matters on the agenda and whether the Councillors regard their interest as prejudicial/pecuniary under the terms of the Code of Conduct – None

P24.44 ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR Members felt that they would prefer to wait until there was a greater committee presence before making any nominations or decisions on the Chair or Vice Chair.  Therefore it was proposed and agreed that the election of a Chair and Vice Chair should be deferred until the next meeting.

P24/45 Members therefore sought a nomination to Chair the meeting, Cllr Berggreen indicated that he would be happy to act as Chair for the current meeting, All Members present supported this and Cllr Kristian Berggreen was appointed as Chair for the meeting.

P24/46 MINUTES. To accept the Minutes of the meeting held on 15 July 2024 (previously circulated).

P24/47 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. Two members of the public were present to speak in support of the first item on the agenda in relation to a ‘permission in principal application ‘The Orchard, Ockley Lane, Hassocks’.

The applicants provided Members with some background on the proposed site and further information on the proposed structure and produced a paper which is set out in Appendix 2 which members were taken through.

To view Appendix 2 please click here.

Members clarified a number of points with the applicant as there was limited information available on the Mid Sussex Planning portal. Members were advised this was a in principle application therefore only limited information is required to be submitted at this stage and it is only if the application progresses to the formal application stage that further information would come forward.

P24/48 APPLICATIONS

DM/24/1414 The Orchard Ockley Lane Hassocks West Sussex Proposed single storey, ecofriendly, sustainable home of character in appearance. –  (Planning in principal application). Members felt that due to the lack of detailed information provided with this application, Members were unable to consider this item.

Members expressed the view that the ‘in principle application should be considered ‘by the Planning authority in the first instance’ as there was insufficient information available to make an informed decision at this point

Response: It was AGREED that the Parish Council would provide their views on the proposal at the detailed submission stage if the in principal approval was granted by Mid Sussex District Council once further detail becomes available.

The members of the public left the meeting after this item was considered.

DM/24/1680 Manor House 104 Keymer Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8QS (T1) Laurel – 1.5m reduction. (T2) Yew – 1.5m reduction. (T3) Hawthorn – 1.5m reduction. (T4) Magnolia – 1m reduction. (T5) Sycamore – 2m reduction. Response: The Council defer to MSDC Tree officers decision.

DM/24/1599 17 Kings Drive Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8DX Proposed single storey rear extension and replacement of garage door with pedestrian door and side window. 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/24/0215 36 Hurst Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9NL Two storey front extension (including garage at ground floor), replacement enlarged single storey rear extension, new dormer to north roof slopes and hip to barn hip enlargements to side roof slopes. New raised rear terrace and other associated alterations. (Amended plans 23.04.2024) (Revised description 15.07.2024). Response: Revised description was NOTED.

DM/24/0272 36 Hurst Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9NL Erection of 1 No. dwelling with car parking. Revision to DM/23/2126 comprising formation of new vehicular access to serve new dwelling. Existing access retained to serve No.36 Hurst Road. (Amended plans received moving access 07.06.2024) (Amended plans for the driveway construction 24.07.2024). Response: The Council defer to WSCC Planning Officers decision.

Members noted that the Highways authority have indicated they would not support the issue of granting the proposed ‘Vehicle Cross Over construction would be substandard in accordance with their specifications, and subject to a warranty period, would fall to WSCC to maintain. This type of construction would not be something the highway authority would be prepared to take on for maintenance in perpetuity.’ Without this issue being resolved the site will not be able to be accessed via the proposed application.

SDNP/24/02932/HOUS The Oaks Southdown Farm Lodge Lane Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8LX Demolition of existing changing room and construction of new changing room lounge and link. Demolition of existing changing room and construction of new changing room lounge and link. 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.

P24/49 APPLICATIONS FOR DISCHARGE OF PLANNING CONDITIONS. None

P24/50 RESOLVED that the observations on the planning issues as agreed above be submitted to the relevant Planning Authority for consideration.

P24/51 PLANNING AUTHORITY DECISION NOTICES

The following decisions were noted:

Application details	Hassocks PC recommendation to Planning Authority	Planning Authority Decision (MSDC/SDNP)
DM/24/1355 The Oaks, Southdown Farm, Lodge Lane, Hassocks	Recommend Approval	Permission Granted
DM/24/1471 15 The Minnels, Hassocks	No Objection	Permission Granted
DM24/0424 Land to the rear of Ockley Grange, Ockley Lane, Hassocks	Recommend Approval	Permission Refused
SDNP/24/01837/FUL Down Under, Lodge Lane, Hassocks	Recommend Refusal	Application withdrawn

 

P24/52 APPEAL NOTIFICATION.  AP/24/0036 Land At Wellhouse Lane Burgess Hill West Sussex.  Development of nine dwellings (Amended Location Plan and Certificate B 10/11/2023). Members are invited to note correspondence received from MSDC regarding the above appeal. (Appendix 1).  Correspondence was NOTED by Members.

P24/53 Date of Next Meeting. 27 August 2024 at 7.30pm

There being no other business the Chair closed the meeting.