Agenda and minutes

Venue: COUNCIL CHAMBER

Contact: Email: committees@midsussex.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

1.

To receive apologies for absence.

Minutes:

The Committee noted that apologies had been received from Councillors Jackson, Laband, Salisbury and Walker.

2.

To receive Declarations of Interest from Members in respect of any matter on the Agenda.

Minutes:

None.

3.

To consider any items that the Chairman agrees to take as urgent business.

Minutes:

None.

4.

DM/19/2197 - Land West of Copthorne Way, Copthorne, RH10 3RX pdf icon PDF 235 KB

Minutes:

Steve Ashdown, Team Leader for Major Developments and Investigations highlighted the Agenda Update Sheet including the rewording of condition 5 and additional informative regarding Gatwick Airport.  He introduced the report for construction of a B8 building, associated hard and soft landscaping, including parking, access and ancillary works.  He noted that a full application is being sought as the proposed building does not conform to the parameters in respect of the floor space and overall height as set out in the consented outline planning permission.  The design and materials to be used will match the consented application of Phase 1 commercial and the visual impact will be limited as it will be shielded by the other building and existing vegetation.  He highlighted that it is considered that the application does comply with the Development Plan, when considered as a whole.

 

The Chairman read a statement from Councillor Phillips, Ward Member for Copthorne and Worth, who opposed the application.  He stated that St. Modwens had suggested that the commercial area of this site was to be for small to medium local businesses.  In his opinion the use of the site to provide suitable provision for local businesses would provide more jobs at higher wages which would benefit the local economy and generate less large traffic movements.  It was difficult for local businesses to expand due to the lack of available sites. 

 

A Member queried the consented roundabout, access to the site and the residential development.  The Team Leader confirmed that consent for phase one had agreed three units or one larger unit.  He believed that one larger unit was the applicant’s preferred option. He noted that all road infrastructure would be funded by the applicant.  

 

With regard to concerns from Members about the increased height of the building, the Team Leader advised the Committee that the maximum ridge height would be 15ms. He noted that views from the residential development of the building would be limited due to changes in topography and would be broken up by the existing vegetation, which had increased in height since the original survey had been completed.   To address comments relating to any impact on residential amenity, he confirmed that in the outline planning permission for the wider development a condition requires the developer to provide details of scheme to mitigate future residents from noise associated with the commercial buildings. The main concern would be noise from use of the access road and it was noted that there are no restriction to the commercial site’s hours of use.  There was no restriction on the existing consent and it would be unreasonable to require them on this application. He confirmed that Environmental Health were content and the developer should mitigate vehicle noise through glazing and ventilation.  He concluded that the classification of B8 was considered appropriate for this location.

 

Several Members agreed the good location of this site with the provision of new infrastructure and the proximity to Gatwick.  Another Member noted the comments by the Parish  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Questions pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 10 due notice of which has been given.