Planning Committee

Minutes

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL

Draft Minutes of the PLANNING COMMITTEE Meeting held on Monday 16 September 2024 at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre, Adastra Park, Hassocks

Attendees: Parish Councillors: Cllr Kristian Berggreen, Cllr Lesley Cruickshank-Robb, Cllr Bill Hatton and Cllr Angus Neil.

In Attendance: Deputy Clerk – Tracy Forte, Cllr Frances Gaudencio and five members of the public.

P24/67 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE. Absent without apology Cllr Robert Brewer.

P24/68 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST.  There were none.

P24/69 ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.

P24/70 MINUTES. It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 27 August 2024 be signed by the Chair as a true and accurate record of the meeting.

P24/71 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.  The residents of 40, 44 and 46 Hurst Road attended the meeting to speak in opposition to application DM/24/1748 42 Hurst Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9NL.

Each of the residents had also shared written objections with the Committee prior to the meeting; these can all be viewed on the Mid Sussex District Council Planning Portal.  DM/24/1748 42 Hurst Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9NL

Members listened to the resident’s reasons for objecting to the application which included:

• breaches in National, District and Neighbourhood Policies,
• loss of light and outlook,
• the proposed new dwelling being out of character and impacting negatively on the street scene,
• a negative impact on biodiversity,
• a lack of transparency about land ownership,
• and concerns over the potential for additional future overdevelopment development on the site and within the local gap.

P24/72 The chair proposed considering application DM/24/1748 42 Hurst Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9NL first, which was fully supported by the committee.

P24/73 APPLICATIONS.

DM/24/1748 42 Hurst Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9NL Erection of two storey dwellinghouse with basement, alongside replacement two storey rear extension to existing dwelling, relocation of rear swimming pool and enclosure within new pool house.

RECOMMEND REFUSAL.  This application is not respectful of the neighbouring properties or the street scene in terms of scale or character.  As such, the application is contrary to Policy 9, Character and Design of the Referendum Hassocks Neighbourhood Plan and DP 26 Character and Design of the District Plan. 

Furthermore the application is set within both the Hurst – Hassocks and Hassocks – Burgess Hill Local Gaps which are protected by Local Gap Policies DP6 of the Mid Sussex District Plan and HNP 1 of the Hassocks Neighbourhood Plan.   These gaps should be protected from any future development.

The applicant has not provided details about the management of foul water drainage from the new dwelling; it is considered that clarification around this matter should be sought prior to any decision being made.

It is noted that this application has received a significant number of local objections and Hassocks PC would therefore request that consideration is given to the application before being decided by Committee rather than by an Officer under the delegation scheme.

Finally the Committee has been made aware that there appears to be some confusion over the expiry date for the submission of comments which is misleading for consultees, and may result in the correct deadline being missed.   It was understood that the expiry date was 17^th September, however on the Planning Portal under Important Dates, the expiry date is shown as 27^th September and on the site notice, the closing date for comments is given as 10^th October.   Please could this be clarified for all consultees.

All members of the public left the meeting.

DM/24/1982 33 Grand Avenue Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8DE Replace existing single storey extension flat roof with mono pitch to include rooflights, new bifold doors and glazed door in place of existing windows. 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/24/2095 3 The Crescent Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8RB 2 x Ash – Fell. Response: Defer to MSDC Tree Officer’s decision.

DM/24/2045 Montrose 32 Woodsland Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8HG Outline application for the erection of a single detached dwelling and garage (re-submission of DM/20/2760) with all matters reserved. 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/24/2085 Land Rear Of 15 Priory Road London Road Hassocks West Sussex Ash – Reduce canopy by 2-3 metres. Response: Defer to MSDC Tree Officer’s decision.

DM/24/2071 9 Challow Close Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8JW Demolition of existing conservatory and replacement with single storey rear extension. Proposed first floor front extension. 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/24/2161 76 Friars Oak Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8PY  Ash (T1) – fell – the tree has dieback. Response: Defer to MSDC Tree Officer’s decision.

DM/24/1896 17 Downs View Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8HJ Removal of existing rear deck and external rear wall. Proposed single storey extension and new raised deck to the rear. Relocate and position an existing garden office on top of the proposed raised deck. 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.

P24/74 APPLICATIONS FOR DISCHARGE OF PLANNING CONDITIONS. None.

P24/75 RESOLVED that the observations on the planning issues as agreed above be submitted to the relevant Planning Authority for consideration.

P24/76 PLANNING AUTHORITY DECISION NOTICES

The following decisions were noted:

P24/77 GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION ON PROPOSED REFORMS TO THE NATIONAL PLANNING POLICY FRAMEWORK AND OTHER CHANGES TO THE PLANNING SYSTEM. Members were invited to note this consultation and to consider any submission to be made on behalf of Hassocks Parish Council.     https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposed-reforms-to-the-national-planning-policy-framework-and-other-changes-to-the-planning-system.  Cllr Frances Gaudencio informed the Committee that she had reviewed elements of the consultation proposals, drawing on the briefing document provided by WSALC which had been provided as a background paper.  Cllr Gaudencio shared some of her considerations with the Committee, noting in particular, questions around addressing infrastructure and flood mitigation as part of the planning process.  Members discussed Cllr Gaudencio’s observations and offered their support to her comments in general.

It was recognised by the Committee that the consultation is lengthy and detailed, and therefore that Members did not necessarily have the expertise or time required to make a full submission; particularly as the closing date was 24 September 2024.   However, the Committee was supportive of a partial submission being made on behalf of HPC and given the limited window of time, it was agreed that this would be delegated to Cllr Gaudencio. Cllr Gaudencio offered to prepare a proposed submission paper which would be circulated to Members in advance for comments/agreement prior to a formal submission being made by the Deputy Clerk.

P24/78 STAGE 1 MID SUSSEX LOCAL PLAN EXAMINATION HEARINGS.  Members were invited to note correspondence providing information on the MSDC Local Plan Examination Hearings to be held on 22-31 October 2024. This was noted by Members.

P24/79 URGENT MATTERS at the discretion of the Chairman for noting and/or inclusion on a future agenda. There were no urgent matters.

P24/80 DATE OF NEXT MEETING. Monday 7 October 2024 at 7.30pm.

There being no other business the Chair closed the meeting at 8.45pm.