Issue - meetings

Demolition of existing buildings, cessation of commercial use as furniture repair workshop and erection of 1 no. new building comprising 2 no. self- catering holiday units - Removal of Condition 8 of planning permission WI/07/05509/FUL - To allow properties to become one property occupied without the holiday let condition. Variation of condition 13 to allow the residents of the property the use of the garage.

Refuse

Mrs Stevens presented the item to Members and drew attention to information provided in the Agenda Update Sheet.  This included additional supporting information from the applicant regarding reference to a High Court case, that comments from Economic Development and Estates were inaccurate, that Chichester Harbour Conservancy had objected to the application although had previously supported it and that there was a need for housing and the cottages would be unoccupied. 

The Committee received the following speakers:

Sarah Billingshurst – Supporter

Albert Plumb – Applicant (statement read)

Tim Johnson – Ward Councillor (statement read)

The Chairman Mrs Purnell left the meeting and did not return.

Rev Bowden took the role of Chairman for the remainder of the meeting.

With regards to other properties along the lane, Mrs Stevens responded that she believed that they were residential properties and was not aware if any were rented out or were ‘Airbnbs’.  On the matter of the personal circumstance of the applicant, Mrs Stevens advised that substantial evidence had not been submitted with the application which set out their personal needs or details regarding their current property.  Mrs Stevens drew attention to the question of the need for this particular building, or the whole of the two cottages which would provide a total six bedrooms.

Mr Whitty advised that the decisions must be made based on planning policy and arguments related to sympathy for the applicant were not material considerations.  There was however a policy to maintain the tourism industry within the peninsula.  Since the last appeal, the price of the properties had not been reduced, and the marketing of the properties required the applicant to consider all potential methods for renting the properties, or if they wish to sell the properties, to review the sale price. 

Mrs Fowler left the meeting and did not return.

In a vote Members agreed the recommendation to refuse the application.

Recommendation to Refuse agreed.

Members took a ten minute break.

Mr McAra left the meeting and did not return.