Agenda and minutes

No apologies as all Members were present.

For transparency Cllr Prescott declared that he recently met Tristan Robinson, Thakeham Group in his role as a Member for Slaugham Parish Council for a non-planning matter out of the area.

In relation to item 6, DM/22/3049 Cllr Eves declared a registrable interest as she is a Member of Burgess Hill Town Council but is not a member of their Planning Committee. She advised that she had not been involved in the Town Council’s objection to the application and she would review the application with an open mind.  

For transparency Cllr Kennedy declared that he lives close to the development site for item 6, DM/22/3049; the application is not within his ward, and he would review the application with an open mind.

The minutes of the meeting of the committee held on 22 June 2023 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Chairman confirmed he had no urgent business.

Susan  Dubberley, Senior  Planning  Officer  set  out  the  full planning application  for  the demolition of Byanda (a single residential property and ancillary buildings) and the erection of a 60-bedroom residential care facility, with associated access, ground works, car parking, servicing, private amenity space, landscaping, construction of unit and boundary treatment. She drew the Members’ attention to the agenda update sheet which removed condition 3, a repetition of condition 10.

The Senior Planning Officer advised the Committee that the site is adjacent to the built-up boundary of Hassocks and highlighted the topography of the site.   She noted that in 2015 residential use was approved for four houses, and there is an extant application from 2016.  On 22 October 2022 the Committee refused an application  on the site for reasons of  the mass, size and domination of the building in the context of the surrounding area which could cause undue harm to nearby residents and neighbouring amenity. She noted that this refusal was appealed, and that there will be a hearing in connection with the appeal on 13 September 2023; the applicant advised they would withdraw their appeal if planning permission was granted for this current application. The Committee were advised of the critical need for houses for older people and the significant unmet need for the provision of registered care homes in Mid Sussex adds substantial weight to the proposal.  All drainage, highway matters and ecology had been discussed at length at the October meeting and were not the reason for refusal. The drainage engineer remains satisfied that drainage details can be conditioned.  The Committee had to decide if the reason the previous application had been refused had been addressed. (Post meeting note - The applicant advised they had withdrawn their appeal on Friday 14 July 2023.)

Cllr Bill Hatton, Hassocks Parish Council spoke in objection to the application.

Peter Tooher, spoke in favour of the application.

The Chairman reminded the Committee that the original application was refused on the grounds of overdevelopment of the site. 

In response to a Member’s request, the Committee were shown the plan which identified the reduction of the proposed development. 

Cllr Berggreen, Ward Member for Hassocks noted that he had spoken against the previous application on behalf of Hassocks Parish Council, and he would review the application with an open mind.  He expressed concern over the minimal reduction in the size of the proposed building, the narrow and steep access onto a congested road and potential stormwater issues . He noted that the highway survey was conducted during lockdown and there was a lack of parking spaces.

The Chairman reiterated that all other matters had been discussed at the previous meeting and the Committee were only debating the application in relation to the scale and mass of the proposed building.

Members discussed the reduced footprint noting there would still be 60 bedrooms, expressed concern over potential flooding issues but noted that some further work had been undertaken recently.   Members approved of the proposed use of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Steve Ashdown, Planning Team Leader Major Development and Enforcement set out the outline application for a residential development, consisting of 260 dwellings with vehicular, pedestrian and cycle access, car parking, open space, play space, ecological areas, attenuation ponds, landscaping and all other associated works.

He drew the Members’ attention to the agenda update sheet which provided clarification. He highlighted that the site has been allocated for residential development in the SA DPD Policy SA13 and the built-up area boundary was moved to include the site. Members were advised that a small portion of the site falls within the Neighbourhood Plan boundary for Burgess Hill but not the main part of the site, where SA DPD and District Plan policies apply. He noted that the developer produced  a constraints and opportunities plan to feed into the Landscape Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) and inform the site layout; this also fed into the landscape master plan.

The full application was for 260 dwellings, with vehicular access from Willowhurst. Separate access to the site for pedestrians and cyclists are proposed in three locations.  He highlighted the veteran  trees, significant enhanced buffers, and future enhancement of woodland areas. A mix of 1,2,3,4 units of apartments and houses is proposed, and a total of 78 affordable units are proposed to comply with DP 31; 75% would be for affordable rent and 25% as first homes, these will be pepper potted across the site. The provision of 490 parking spaces: allocated / non allocated, garages, car barns and accessibility spaces would be below the guidance of West Sussex County Council, but the Local Highway Authority (LHA) had not raised an objection.  To meet Policy SA13 the properties in the southern part of the site would be less dense. He noted that the roads would not be adopted by the LHA, but there would be links between all land parcels for pedestrians and cyclists. To address an identified impact on the privacy of Brookwood as a result of the proposed pedestrian link, a condition is proposed, and an existing boundary would have additional planting of a hedge to be secured by planning condition 21. 

The Team Leader confirmed that in addition to improvements to existing footways in the area, a £831,000 contribution towards sustainable transport improvement in Burgess Hill will be secured; this is in addition to a residential travel plan. The application was not considered to be contrary to Policy DP 26, as significant negative impacts on existing amenities was not considered likely.  PV panels will be installed on the properties as the developer is aiming for net zero during the operational phase; a condition will secure the final PV details for each property.  The Members were advised that the application had to be determined in accordance with the District Plan, SA DPD and Burgess Hill Neighbourhood Plan.  He confirmed the site is located within the built-up area and has been allocated for 300 units in SA13, and the principle of development on the site had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The Chairman confirmed that no questions were received, and he thanked everybody who had attended the meeting.