Planning Committee

Minutes

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the PLANNING COMMITTEE Meeting held on Monday 28 October 2024 at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre, Adastra Park, Hassocks

Attendees: Parish Councillors: Cllr Kristian Berggreen (Chair), Cllr Robert Brewer, Cllr Lesley Cruickshank-Robb and Cllr Bill Hatton.

In Attendance: Deputy Clerk – Tracy Forte,

P24/94 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE. Apologies were received from Cllr Angus Neil.

P24/95 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST.  There were none.

P24/96 MINUTES. It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 7 October 2024 be signed by the Chair as a true and accurate record of the meeting.

P24/97 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. One member of the public was in attendance to discuss an application which was not on the agenda.  The individual was informed that public participation could only extend to matters on the agenda; it was also confirmed that the application in question had already been considered at the previous Planning meeting and a decision submitted to MSDC.  The member of the public then left the meeting.

P24/98 APPLICATIONS.

DM/24/2416 67 Downs View Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8HY Proposed raised patio and garden wall. 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/24/2436 8 Chancellors Park Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8EZ Single storey ground floor rear extension and single storey first floor side 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/24/2344 35 Kings Drive Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8DY Single storey rear extension to create new kitchen/dining/living space and internal alterations. Application Withdrawn.

DM/24/2505 50 Hurst Road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 9NL Proposed tennis court to rear garden. Response: RECOMMEND APPROVAL.

P24/99 APPLICATIONS FOR DISCHARGE OF PLANNING CONDITIONS. None.

P24/100 RESOLVED that the observations on the planning issues as agreed above be submitted to the relevant Planning Authority for consideration.

P24/101 PLANNING AUTHORITY DECISION NOTICES

P24/101.1 The following decisions were noted:

P24/102 MID SUSSEX DISTRICT PLAN EXAMINATION STAGE 1 HEARINGS UPDATE. Members noted correspondence providing information on the MSDC Local Plan Examination Hearings which started on Tuesday 22 October 2024.  Further details can be found on the MSDC Examination webpage

https://www.midsussex.gov.uk/planning-building/mid-sussex-district-plan/district-plan-review-examination/

P24/103 URGENT MATTERS at the discretion of the Chairman for noting and/or inclusion on a future agenda. The Deputy Clerk informed the Committee that the applicant for application SDNP/24/03728/HOUS had brought it to her attention that this application had not been included on an HPC Planning Agenda for the committee to consider.   Unfortunately, this omission was due to an administrative error and the closing date for the submission of comments had passed.  The Deputy Clerk had apologised to the applicant and assured them that whilst the Committee could not make a decision on the application this would be brought to their attention.  She also confirmed that the relevant Planning Officer would be informed of the reason as to why the Parish Council had not submitted a comment. Members noted this information and the application.

P24/104 DATE OF NEXT MEETING. Monday 18 November 2024 at 7.30pm.

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