Agenda and minutes

None as all Members were present.

None.

The Minutes of the Committee meeting held on 21 October 2021 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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Stephen Ashdown, Planning Applications Team Leader for Major Developments introduced the application. He drew Members’ attention to the Agenda Update Sheet noting the recent correspondence from the applicant in relation to electric vehicle charging points (EVC), and amendments regarding the paragraph on local amenities.

The reserved matters application detailed the appearance, layout, landscape and scale for 500 dwellings, with associated infrastructure, open space and landscaping, pursuant to outline planning permission DM/18/4979.  He highlighted that the outline planning permission had already determined the principles of development for the site, the access to the site, highway safety matters and the impact of the development on the highway network which were not part of the application before the Committee, and the site has been allocated for housing under the District Plan policy DP11.

The Team Leader confirmed the parameter plan had been approved, noted the mix of 1,2,3,4 & 5 bedroomed dwellings including 7 bungalows.  The application was policy compliant for the provision of affordable homes, with a mix of social housing and shared ownership spread throughout the site.  The designs of the dwellings  depend to the position within the site, there are 4 designs.  He noted the policy compliant northern buffer to the green open space, mitigation to the heritage assets, community orchard, and retention of hedgerows to provide a green corridor.  He highlighted that the 10ms buffer to existing properties in Mackey Avenue would be outside the garden of the new properties, which would be managed by a Management Company. There will be a link to join up with bridleways 19 and 18 to connect with Burgess Hill.  The main play area is integrated into the scheme and is overlooked by the adjacent dwellings.  The application provides 1200 parking spaces, garages, allocated parking and visitor spaces, with EVC points in the garages. Provision of EVCs for the remainder of the site is covered by condition 4.

The Team Leader advised the Design Review Panel and Urban Designer had no objections.  The application has mitigation measures to deal with the Urban Designers concerns regarding issues relating to drop off and pick up at the proposed school, by providing a drop off loop around the open space and additional parking along the avenue.  There is a sustainability statement, a reduction of CO2 emissions has been achieved and EVC points will be installed. There is less than substantial harm to Ockley Manor and the public benefits are clear and outweigh the harm identified.

Cllr Dempsey, Ward Member for Hassocks spoke in objection to the application noting that the site has been controversial and was unpopular with the local residents as it was not part of the Neighbourhood Plan.  Along with other sites it contributes to more than 1000 new houses in Hassocks, a 33% increase in the size of the village. Many  Members and the Council have an aspiration for new houses to meet the highest environmental standards, and with the installation of gas boilers these new houses do not match that aspiration. He noted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Andrew Clarke, Senior Planning introduced the report.  He noted that the report related to a planning enforcement investigation and breach of planning control where the landowner has failed to comply with the requirements of an Enforcement Notice. Officers were requesting authorisation from the District Planning Committee to commence prosecution proceedings in relation to the failure to comply with an extant s.172 Enforcement Notice.  He confirmed that enforcement action had been delayed due to the pandemic.  The owner had contacted the enforcement team after the report requesting authorisation to prosecute had been submitted to the committee.  The Officer advised the offence had been committed as the landowner had failed to comply within the specified time period.

A Member noted that the work on the property had encroached on the footway and supported enforcement action.  Another Member supported the proposed action to uphold planning legislation.

As there were no further questions or contributions the Chairman took the Members to the recommendation.  This was proposed by Cllr Coote and seconded by Cllr Peacock and was unanimously approved. 

RESOLVED

It is recommended that authority be given for the Council to prosecute the owner of the land for non-compliance with the Enforcement Notice (which is an offence under section 179 TCPA 1990) subject to the Solicitor to the Council being satisfied that there is sufficient evidence, and it is in the public interest to pursue a prosecution.

None.