Decision details

[At the beginning of the discussion on this item, Councillor Haywood declared a Personal Interest as Chair of Middleton-on-Sea Parish Council and Ward Member for Middleton-on-Sea.]

1 Public Speaker

Robert Hawks – Objector

Erection of first floor side extension.

The Planning Area Team Leader presented the report. This was followed by 1 Public Speaker.

Members then took part in a full debate on the application where a number of points were raised and responded to by Officers, including:

·       concerns around fire and thatched properties

·       the Dorset model to deal with external fire spread, but concerns for the consequences to neighbouring properties should this model have to be used

·       the need for professional fire risk assessments to thatched cottages and their surrounds

·       the boundary distances around thatched properties

The Group Head of Planning clarified to Members that the decision of this Committee could only be made on the grounds of planning policy and confirmed that there were no planning policies in the Arun Local Plan or National Planning Policy Framework that related to fire risk, and that fire risk was dealt with via Building Control.

The recommendations were then proposed and seconded.

The Committee

RESOLVED

That the application be APPROVED CONDITIONALLY as detailed in the report subject to the conditions as detailed.