Agenda and minutes

The Chairman introduced the meeting and took a roll call of Members in attendance. The Legal Officer explained the virtual meeting procedure.

Apologies were received from Councillor Walker.

The Chairman declared a personal interest in application DM/20/1333 - Land at Junction of Blackwell Farm Road and Holtye Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 3JW as he was a Member of the Cabinet when Cabinet approved the disposal of the land.

Cllr Eggleston declared a personal interest in application  DM/20/4096 - Fairfield Recreation Ground, Fairfield Road, Burgess Hill, West Sussex as he is a Member of Burgess Hill Town Council who are the applicant, but he was not involved in submitting the application.

Cllr MacNaughton declared a prejudicial interest in application DM/20/1333 - Land at Junction of Blackwell Farm Road and Holtye Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 3JW as he was the Cabinet Member whom approved the funding for the development.

Cllr Dabell declared a personal interest in application DM/20/1333 - Land at Junction of Blackwell Farm Road and Holtye Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 3JW as he is a Member of East Grinstead Town Council and sits on East Grinstead Town Council’s Planning Committee which has previously debated the application. He confirmed that he reserved his right to speak at the Town Council’s Planning Committee and comes to this meeting with an open mind to hear representations from Officers, Public Speakers and Members of the Committee.

Cllr Allen declared a personal interest in applications DM/20/4096 - Fairfield Recreation Ground, Fairfield Road, Burgess Hill, West Sussex  DM/20/2740 The Emperor Restaurant and DM/203780 Ote Hall Farm as he is a Member of Burgess Hill Town Council and sits on Burgess Hill Town Council’s Planning Committee which has previously debated the application. He confirmed that he comes to this meeting with an open mind to hear representations from Officers, Public Speakers and Members of the Committee.

Cllr Cartwright declared a personal interest in application DM/20/4096 - Fairfield Recreation Ground, Fairfield Road, Burgess Hill, West Sussex as he is a Member of Burgess Hill Town Council and sits on Burgess Hill Town Council’s Planning Committee which has previously debated the application. He confirmed that he comes to this meeting with an open mind to hear representations from Officers, Public Speakers and Members of the Committee.

Cllr Pulfer declared a personal interest in application DM/20/1388 - 2-6 The Broadway, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 3AH as he is a Member of Haywards Heath Town Council and sits on Haywards Heath Town Council’s Planning Committee which has previously debated the application. He confirmed that he comes to this meeting with an open mind to hear representations from Officers, Public Speakers and Members of the Committee.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 10 December 2020 were agreed as a correct record and signed electronically by the Chairman.

The Chairman had no urgent business.

The Chairman directed Member’s attention to the Agenda Update Sheet.

Susan Dubberley, Senior Planning Officer, introduced the report which sought planning permission for the demolition of the existing building and construction of a retail unit (Class A1-A5 use) and 19 residential apartments, with associated vehicle parking, landscaping and ancillary works, and retention of existing access.

Andrew Sommerville, Agent of the Applicant, spoke in favour of the application.

A Member believed the development should be approved as the building is poorly fashioned and was so even when the building was in use. He asked where the bin storage would be located on the site.

The Senior Planning Officer showed where the bin storage was located; the bin storage for the retail unit is located to the north of the site and for the residential units it is located to the south-west of site bordering the bicycle storage.

A Member felt that this is a great site to develop however was disappointed that it offers no affordable housing units. He hoped that there was suitable S.106 funding in place as an alternative.

The Chairman confirmed that it would not be viable to provide affordable housing now but if the developer makes more revenue from the properties then the review mechanism in the legal agreement  would require the developers  to pay a contribution towards affordable housing as appropriate.

The Chairman then moved to the vote to approve the application in accordance with the Officer Recommendations and the Agenda Update Sheet, which was proposed by Cllr Pulfer and seconded by Cllr Coote.

A recorded vote was carried out by the Legal Officer and the application was unanimously approved.

RESOLVED

 A

That outline planning permission be approved subject to the completion of a satisfactory S106 Legal Agreement to secure infrastructure contributions, to include a clause requiring a viability review and the conditions set in Appendix A as amended in the Agenda Update Sheet;

and

 B

That if the applicants have not submitted a satisfactory signed planning obligation securing the necessary infrastructure payments by the 10^th March 2021, then it is recommended that permission be refused at the discretion of the Divisional Lead for Planning and Economy, for the following reasons:

1. 'The application fails to comply with policy DP20 of the Mid Sussex District Plan in respect of the infrastructure and affordable housing required to serve the development.'

Steve King, Planning Applications Team Leader, introduced the report which sought Planning permission for the construction of a petanque court and two benches at Fairfield Recreation Ground, Fairfield Road, Burgess Hill. He noted that the application was before the Committee as Mid Sussex District Council is the landowner.

The Chairman noted that no Member wished to speak so moved to the vote to approve the application in accordance with the Officer Recommendation which was proposed by Cllr Eggleston and seconded by Cllr Sweatman.

A recorded vote was carried out by the Legal Officer and the motion was unanimously approved.

RESOLVED

That planning permission be approved subject to the conditions outlined at Appendix A.

Joseph Swift, Senior Planning Officer, introduced the report which sought planning permission for the proposed amendment to application DM/17/4575 to redistribute a proportion of the commercial space in the proposed building whilst retaining 10 flats. He drew Members’ attention to the Agenda Update Sheet which noted a few changes to Conditions 8 and 17.

A Member confirmed that it is a minor variation to an existing approval so would support approving the application.

A Member enquired where the bin storage would be located and whether the previous issue of window size was addressed.

The Senior Planning Officer confirmed that issue of the window size was brought up by the Urban Designer and was addressed through the submission of amended plans. He also confirmed that the bin storage is enclosed and secured by a condition.

The Chairman then moved to the vote to approve the application in accordance with the Officer Recommendations, which was proposed by Cllr Eggleston and seconded by Cllr Coote.

A recorded vote was carried out by the Legal Officer and the motion was unanimously approved.

RESOLVED

A: That planning permission be approved subject to the completion of a S106 Legal Agreement to secure the infrastructure contributions and the conditions set in Appendix A as amended in the Officer Update Sheet;

and

B: That if the applicants have not submitted a satisfactory signed planning obligation securing the necessary infrastructure requirements by the 21st March 2021, then it is recommended that permission be refused at the discretion of the Divisional Lead for Planning and Economy, for the following reasons:

1. 'The application fails to comply with policy DP20 and DP31 of the Mid Sussex District Plan in respect of the infrastructure required to serve the development.'

Joseph Swift, Senior Planning Officer, introduced the report which sort planning permission for the erection of a farm shop and café/tea room buildings and car park at Ote Hall Farm, Janes Lane, Burgess Hill. He drew Member’s attention to the Agenda Update Sheet which included a letter of support from Cllr Hillier as well as comments from Burgess Hill Town Council recommending approval of the application.

Carola Godman Irvine, Applicant, spoke in favour of the application.

Robin Walker, Chairman of Theobalds Road Association, spoke in favour of the application.

A Member believed that the application is a good proposal and does not conflict with other shops in the area. He believed that the shop would become a depot for the purchase of local produce and will be good for the green economy and the creation of jobs.

A Member felt that the application was an excellent proposal. He sought clarification as to whether the hedging of a nearby footpath leading to the site had been resolved and expressed hope that electric vehicle charging points would be created to future-proof the site.

The Vice-Chairman noted the pictures in the officer’s presentation and that the road looks extremely worn at the entrance of the site so asked that the Planning Committee communicate to West Sussex County Council Highways that the road should be improved.

The Chairman then moved to the vote to approve the application in accordance with the Officer Recommendation, which was proposed by Cllr Cartwright and seconded by Cllr Coote.

A recorded vote was carried out by the Legal Officer and the motion was unanimously approved.

RESOLVED

That planning permission be approved subject to the conditions set in Appendix A.

[Cllr MacNaughton removed himself from the discussion and voting at 4:55pm]

Andrew Watt, Senior Planning Officer, introduced the application which sought full planning permission for the construction of 10 affordable dwellings (6 x 3-bed houses and 4 x 2-bed houses) with associated car parking, landscaping and creation of new access onto Blackwell Farm Road.

Steven King, Planning Applications Team Leader, noted that the previous application was approved under a different policy context, with the Mid Sussex Local Plan being the development plan at that time. He outlined that the although the development plan had changed, with the Mid Sussex Local Plan being replaced by the District Plan, the issues that Members had come to a view on in the previous application remained the same issues now. He advised that officers considered that the application is still acceptable. He advised that whilst the site is used as open space it was not allocated as open space in the Mid Sussex District Plan. He added that Mid Sussex District Council Leisure Officers consider that the site is surplus to requirement and advised that the Committee should give weight to this view.

Cllr Liz Bennett, Ward Member, spoke on behalf of her residents who are very unhappy about the development and value the area of open space. She stated the pandemic has shown the need for open spaces and the importance of it for health, wellbeing and safe distancing. The space is held in high regard and forms an important part of the street scene, along the gateway and into the town. She believed that something more innkeeping to the local area would be appropriate such as a rose garden of remembrance would have been more welcomed by the community and residents. She also highlighted the vehicle movements along Blackwell Farm Road which is an access and exit for 450 houses as well as a primary school which has created frustrations of residents with dangerous parking and gridlocked motorists.

Cllr Margaret Belsey, Ward Member, spoke against the application. She noted the permission previously granted on the site and that East Grinstead Town Council’s Planning Committee have rejected the application on three separate occasions. She asked that the decision be deferred until relevant traffic survey has been carried out as the one carried out for the application was done so during the pandemic and therefore is not an accurate reflection on the use of the road.

The Senior Planning Officer confirmed that the previous Road Safety Audit was out of date and consequently a new audit was carried out during the pandemic.

The Chairman explained that the principle for the loss of space and housing on the site was established by the previous permission on the site.

A Member noted that the principle of development was approved under a different policy context and therefore believed that the principle carried little weight.

The Planning Applications Team Leader referred to P.60 of the report which detailed the now expired outline permission being afforded limited weight. He noted whilst that the previous permission had expired and was determined  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

None.