Issue - meetings

            (Prior to consideration of this application, Councillor Huntley spoke as Ward Councillor.)

P/134/16/OUT – Outline application for the development of up to 280 dwellings (including affordable homes), land for a replacement scout hut, land for an Ambulance Community Response Post Facility and land for either a 1FE primary school or care home.  Provision of a primary vehicular access from Sefter Road and demolition of No.80 Rose Green Road and creation of a pedestrian and emergency only access.  Provision of Public Open Spaces including associated children’s play areas, landscaping, drainage and earthworks.  This application also falls within the parish of Aldwick, Land north of Sefter road & 80 Rose Green Road, Pagham

The Principal Strategic Planner presented this report which advised that, although this application had been determined at the meeting on 13 November 2018 to be approved subject to completion of the S106 Agreement in accordance with the officer’s recommendation, it had now been brought back to enable Members to consider the following new material considerations:-

1.    The impact of the development upon the Infantry Section Post situated on site which was a non-designated heritage asset; and

2.    Publication of the draft Pagham Neighbourhood Plan following its publication under Regulation 14 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012.

The Committee was advised that officers had been made aware of several points raised by Members which asserted that there were new material considerations which would justify the reconsideration of highways and ecological matters.  In relation to that, the Council’s Planning Officers had sought advice from West Sussex County Council as the Local Highway Authority and Natural England, together with advice from the Council’s Legal Team.  The advice received was that the matters raised with officers did not constitute new material considerations which would justify re-opening the debate or reconsidering those matters.

Members were strongly advised that the debate should be limited to those matters which constituted new material consideration only, as set out in the report and that any debate, weight or consideration given to any matter other than those identified within the officer’s recommendation could result in an unsound and therefore legally challengeable decision.

With regard to the Pagham Development Management Plan (also known as the Pagham Neighbourhood Plan), which was a material consideration in the determination of this application, the professional conclusion of officers was that the weight which could be attributed to it at the present time was extremely limited for the reasons set out in the report.

A consultation response had been received from the Council’s Conservation Officer in respect of the non-designated heritage asset, i.e. the Infantry Section Post which was in situ on the site.  As a result, it was recommended that a condition be included that would require the developer to submit details for approval by the Local Planning Authority which would establish the feasibility of retaining or repairing the infantry section post, to also include measures to make the structure safe and secure.  Should it be found that retention was not possible then  ...  view the full minutes text for item 194