Agenda and minutes

The Chairman commenced the roll call to confirm the Members present.

Tom Clark, Head of Regulatory Services, advised that new regulations have recently been introduced to enable the Council to hold its meetings to include those participants attending remotely. To ensure the smooth running of such remote meetings it has been necessary to amend some of the Council procedure rules and such rules have been amended by me / the Head of Regulatory Services in accordance with urgency powers in the scheme of officer delegation to keep the Constitution legally updated.

Apologies were received from Councillor Coe-Gunnell White.

None.

The Minutes of the Committee meeting held on 20 February 2020 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

None.

Rachel Richardson, Senior Planning Officer introduced the report seeking planning permission for the demolition of the existing buildings and redevelopment of the site to provide 18 dwellings comprising 2 No. 1-bed flats, 4 No. 2-bed flats, 5 No. 2-bed houses, 3 No. 3-bed houses, and 4 No. 4-bed houses with associated access, landscaping and car parking.  She drew Members attention to the additional conditions on the Agenda Update Sheet.  She confirmed that amended drawings had been received and noted that the run-down brownfield site has been allocated in the Haywards Heath Neighbourhood Plan for redevelopment.  The Members were advised that WSCC will request the developer to repair any damage to the road once construction has been completed. She highlighted the additional condition for the developer to provide more details of the proposed fence by the hedgerow.  It was confirmed that the site would provide 50% affordable housing which is exceeds the District Plan requirement of 30%, amended plans had been requested by the Highway Authority detailing the visibility splays and double width road.  The Officer stated that the principle of development was acceptable, that a 5-year land supply can be demonstrated, and the land is allocated in Haywards Heath Neighbourhood Plan.   The objection by the Urban Designer of the inward facing design of the dwellings was noted, however the application meets the National Planning Policy Framework.

The Chairman confirmed all Committee Members had received the Agenda Update Sheet  including revisions to Appendix B.  He informed the Committee that most of the letters and objections were from residents of Bolnore Road and related to the condition of the road surface.  He confirmed that regulation 122 of the Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations would apply. This  limits the use  of planning obligations so that a legal agreement must be necessary to make the development acceptable on planning grounds. WSCC have raised no highway objections.

            Several Members commented on the 50% affordable housing provision for the proposed site, the current state of the buildings on the land and that there were no pre-application discussions with the developers. 

The  Senior Planning  Officer noted  there  had  been  no  pre-application discussions. 

Nick Rogers, Business Unit Leader for Development Management  confirmed that developers are encouraged to seek pre-application advice from the Local Authority and liaise with the Town and Parish Councils as it can identify any issues and result in a quicker decision once the application is submitted.  He noted that in this case once the application had been received there has been negotiations of the plans to improve the design of the dwellings.

            A Member commented that there had been a desire locally that the land could be put to horticultural use.  He queried the southern boundary with the site and requested funds to upgrade the footpath/cycle path and provide a planting scheme.  He confirmed his support of the application.

            The Chairman advised that West Sussex County Council will monitor the condition of road.  The Business Unit Leader highlighted that the land a Member had queried is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

None.