Agenda item

Steve Ashdown, Planning Applications Team Leader, introduced the application which seeks Reserved Matters consent for the layout, appearance, scale and landscaping of the first two residential phases pursuant to the outline planning permission (13/04127/OUTES) that was granted consent by the Council under a notice dated 25th May 2016. It makes provision for 303 dwellings of which 91 units will be affordable in line with the requirements of the S106 Legal Agreement.  The outline planning permission (13/04127/OUTES) granted consent for up to 500 dwellings across the wider site including commercial units, a site for a school and a site for a Health facility. Reserved matters have already been consented for the spine road that runs through the site and the first phase of the commercial units and work has commenced on site to deliver the already consented matters, along with the associated infrastructure.

The Planning Applications Team Leader drew attention to the update sheet which stated that the drainage engineer had no objection to the application.  He also highlighted the 15m buffer zone protecting the area of ancient woodland.  He noted that the units would be a mix of 1 to 5 bed units and the affordable mix included 2 bungalows.

Camilla Duckworth, agent, spoke in support of the application. 

The Chairman reminded the Members that the principle of development and access had already approved in 2014 and that the conditions for the site formed part of the outline application approval.  He noted that the key issues were listed on page 16 and the school site would be a separate planning application which would be processed by West Sussex County Council. 

A Member thanked the officer for a comprehensive report and noted that the application complied with the Council’s policy for 30% affordable housing and had a large number of 2/3 bed units.  

Several Members commented on drainage, speed limits within the development, cycle routes connecting the site to Three Bridges and the Ancient Woodland.  The Planning Applications Team Leader confirmed that Thames Water had agreed to discharge the condition concerning foul drainage. He advised that West Sussex County Council would deal with speed limits as it was a highway issue.  He stated that the roads marked grey on the plans would be adopted.  He confirmed that St Modwen Development is acting as a ‘master developer’ and was bringing forward the commercial development and spine road.  St Modwen Homes had secured the first two residential parcels that formed this application.  The Chairman noted that condition 5 covers cycle routes and pedestrian access within the site.

The Chairman advised that Worth Neighbourhood Plan carries little weight as only a draft plan was published.  In reply to a Member’s question he advised that there was only provision for electric charging points in garages. He noted that single phase charging points are slow and that future consideration must be made to install three phase charging points externally. He highlighted the comprehensive comments by the urban designer and was pleased with the pepper potting of affordable housing throughout the development.  The plan incorporated improvements to protect children whilst using the playground.

In response to Members’ questions the Planning Applications Team Leader stated that the report contained a detailed section on parking and the proposals comply with Mid Sussex District Council parking standards.  He noted that in the outline planning permission a Section 106 agreement requires the provision of a bus service and talks were ongoing with Metro Bus for route 291 to run through the site.  An application will come forward for cycle link to run south of the site which will connect it to Three Bridges.

Councillor Walker commented that the urban designer had been consulted and proposed that they move to the recommendations, this was seconded by Councillor Whittaker.  The Chairman took Members to the recommendations as set out in the report. These were approved unanimously.

RESOLVED

That planning permission be granted subject to the conditions suggested in Appendix A and the agenda update sheet.