Agenda and minutes

Venue: via REMOTE VIDEO LINK

Contact: Email: committees@midsussex.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

1.

Roll Call and Virtual Meeting Explanation.

Minutes:

The Chairman commenced the meeting with a one-minute silence in memory of HRH Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh. He took a roll call to confirm the Members present.  Tom Clark, Head of Regulatory Services provided a virtual meeting explanation.  The Chairman outlined the public speaking procedure.

 

2.

To receive apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Cllr Marsh.

3.

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

Minutes:

None.

4.

To confirm Minutes of the previous meeting of the District Planning Committee held on 14 January 2021. pdf icon PDF 236 KB

Minutes:

5.

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

Minutes:

None.

 

The  Chairman  confirmed   that   all   Members  had   received  the  Agenda Update Sheet.  He highlighted that to reach a decision on an application the Members refer the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), Mid Sussex Design Guide, the District Plan and other supplementary planning documents. 

 

6.

DM/20/2640 - Marylands Nursery Site, Cowfold Road, Bolney, RH17 5QR. pdf icon PDF 606 KB

Minutes:

Joanne Fisher, Senior Planning Officer introduced the report seeking demolition of the single dwelling and outbuildings and erection of B8 floorspace (including ancillary office space) across 3 buildings, with hard and soft landscaping, parking and servicing. Revised access would be provided from the A272/A23 western roundabout closing the existing vehicular access closed on Cowfold Road. Additional highway information was received on 03/03/2021 and included an updated noise assessment. The site would provide 103 parking spaces including 12 ECV charge points, 7 mobility bays, 9 car sharing bays and 32 cycle parking spaces.  Landscaping within the car parking area would soften the hard surfaces.  She advised that unit 1 would have a double barrel roof, and units 2 and 3 would be one building, each with a 2-storey  glazed entrance.  The existing established trees will remain,  and  additional mixed native trees and hedgerow would be planted.  The Councils Landscape Officer supports the Landscaping Masterplan.  

 

The Planning Officer outlined the main issues where the application conflicted with the District Plan  and the material considerations.  The land has been allocated for employment uses and the site has gone through selection with the Site Allocation Development Plan Document (SA DPD).   This has been submitted for examination and carries significant weight. The site would provide a comprehensive redevelopment seeking to  improve the character of the area.   The buildings have been laid out to make an effective use of the topography and landscaping to mitigate the impact of the development against existing and proposed dense vegetation.   The colours of the elevations seek to blend in with the surrounding trees and vegetation.   The parking provision meets the parking standards in West Sussex County Council guidance and there are alternative travel arrangements in a travel plan.   There will be no significant detriment to nearby amenities. Although the principle of the application does not comply with Policy DP12, there are other material considerations which outweigh this conflict which are set out in the Officers report and this presentation, the most specific is that the proposal is allocated for Storage and Distribution employment uses under Policy SA6 of the emerging Site Allocation DPD. As the document has been submitted for examination it carries significant weight.  Overall, Officers consider that the planning balance falls significantly in favour of approving the planning application It was noted that the Agenda Update sheet confirmed the deletion of condition 15 which was a duplication of condition 14.

 

Tom Clark, Solicitor read the submission from Cllr Trelfall, Charman of Bolney Parish Council Planning Committee.  They were  generally supportive of development of the site but expressed concerns with the impact of the tall buildings on raised ground levels to the neighbouring area. 

 

Mr Barton, applicant spoke in support of the application. 

 

Several Members showed support of the application at a sustainable location close to the A23 and stated that it would improve the visual appearance of the current unsightly site.  They commended the provision of cycle spaces but expressed concern as there was no safe direct  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

DM/20/3516 - Maxwelton House, 41-43 Boltro Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 1BJ. pdf icon PDF 890 KB

Minutes:

Joanne Fisher, Senior Planning Officer introduced the report. The application proposed the demolition of existing office building and provision of 54 apartments with associated parking and landscaping.  She  drew  Members attention to the  Agenda  Update  Sheet  and  highlighted that the  update included responses the Highways Authority which had been omitted from Appendix B and comments from West Sussex CCG regarding healthcare provision, updated WSCC contributions as less flats were proposed and a recommended condition relating  to a travel plan.

 

The Planning Officer advised that the site is within the builtup area of Haywards Heath and the development provides 37 flats for market housing and 17 affordable flats. The development would provide 30 % affordable housing.  The building would be split into five vertically proportioned bays with two main entrance cores to the front and rear of the buildings and comprise seven storeys in height. The upper two storeys are stepped in on the roof. On the lower ground floor there would be undercroft parking, bin stores, cycle stores and lift and stair wells. There would be a total provision of a  28 car parking spaces, 9 having ECV points and 78 bike spaces. The parking is below WSCC standards but the site is in a sustainable location close to the  town centre, bus stops and the railway line. The Applicant used local census data to support the parking provision but an extra nine spaces may be required and could be accommodated through on-street parking. A Travel Plan will be provided. The Highways Authority support the scheme.  The site had not been identified as an employment site and redevelopment to residential  was acceptable and would provide additional windfall housing.  The Mid Sussex Design Guide supports site optimisation in this location. Due to the levels of the site, the building would read as a four-storey building due to the lower ground level and the two additional stories on the roof set back and in from the main building line. The proposed design minimises the prominence of the building. A different material will be used for the upper levels to minimise the impact of the taller building. The Urban Designer and Design Review Panel support the scheme. It is considered that there will be less than substantial  harm to Muster Green Conservation Area and the public benefits of the development  out-weigh the harm. It is considered that the proposal would not cause detriment to residential amenities surrounding the site.

 

Mr Robert Wild, resident, spoke in objection to the application.

 

Members expressed concern over the level of car parking provision.  They discussed the provision for cycles and the Car Club, the height of the building and the materials for the two upper storeys.   

 

Members noted the sustainable location of the development , that Haywards Heath Town Council supported the application and queried the impact of the development on the local schools.

 

The Chairman confirmed the ECV points were covered by condition 14.  He highlighted that is was not for the Council to comment on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Questions pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 10.2 due notice of which has been given.

Minutes:

None.