Issue - meetings

Erection of 6 no. flats with associated parking, bin and cycle store, landscaping and open space (consistent with scheme approved under 16/00444/FUL).

REFUSE

Mr Power introduced the application.

Additional information was provided on the Update Agenda Sheet regarding the corrected name of the applicant, additional relevant planning history, amended conditions relating to no occupation prior to vehicular access construction, or until secure cycle parking spaces have been provided and no external illumination permitted other than in accordance with a lighting scheme having been submitted and approved.

Further verbal updates were provided regarding new and amended conditions in relation to litter control, requirement for bird/boxes/nesting bricks, reference to West Sussex County Council Highways Parking Guidance 2019, on the matter of contaminated land, to ensure the proposal would not impact on the integrity of the remediation as previously permitted, and internet provision.

The following member of the public addressed the Committee:

Mr Roger Owers – Objector

During the discussion Members debated the previous permission granted and now lapsed, the change of context to the current time related to the setting, the high density nature of the site, requirement of piling works, contamination, broadband limitations, loss of trees, limitations of new tree planting due to adjacent treatment works, the current opportunity for recreational activity on the site, the proposed limited buffering of proposed development from the reduced open space and the design of the spine road with a pinch point and the effect of parking spaces near to the location.  Members further discussed the lack of amenity around the proposed development, disruption to local residents during the construction process, views that the development should have been built when other adjacent plots were under construction, and the number of written objections received by the Council.

Mr Power responded that the density was not out of keeping with the location, the proposed conditions dealt with issues regarding contamination and broadband.  The remaining open space would still be of considerable size and  the remaining provision of open space would comply with Local Plan policy.  The Construction Management Plan could control the impact of piling works to neighbouring amenity, as to could the storage of construction  materials and any clearing/tidying of site could be controlled by this condition.  Mr Whitty added that piling works would be part of the material considerations and with regards to climate emergency, policy 40 of the current Local Plan has been taken into consideration.  In relation to the delay in constructing the proposed development and lapsed permission from 2016, this was a decision of the developer.

Members further debated safeguarding the remaining public space from future development, proximity of the public space to the flats and likelihood of conflict, that it was now easier to comprehend the impact of the proposed development with other adjacent dwellings completed, whether a site visit was appropriate, and whether repositioning the flats within the plot would achieve a better result.  Mr Whitty responded that a condition related to the open space and there was a s106 requirement, the NPPF had become more defined in terms of the obligation to establish well-designed places.  With regards to the proximity of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41