Issue - meetings

(Prior to the consideration of this application, Councillor Ms Thurston had declared a prejudicial interest and was placed in the virtual waiting room and so took no part in the debate or vote.)

WA/48/19/RES - Approval for Reserved Matters following outline permission WA/22/15/OUT comprising 400 new homes (incl. affordable), 360sqm of retail space (A1 to A3), 152sqm of community space (D1 to D2 & including retention & refurbishment of 12sqm 'old smithy'), demolition of remaining buildings to Arundel Road along with public open space, LEAP, MUGA, allotments, car & cycle parking, drainage & associated works - This site also lies within the parish of Barnham & Eastergate.

          At its meeting on Wednesday 24 June 2020 the committee was presented with this application and it was resolved to DEFER a decision to enable more work to be undertaken by the applicant on the design of the scheme. Following discussions with officers, the applicants submitted a large number of revised plans, drawings and documents. The application was then subject to a further period of consultation and publicity, which ended on 8 October 2020.

          The Principal Planning Officer presented the report update to the committee and advised Members that the revised plans were prepared in the context of a new design code that increased the number of character areas from 5 to 6. Each area now adopted a more distinctive design approach.

          In the course of discussion, overall support for the proposals was clear. Some reservations were expressed with regard to the phasing of the development and the need for the public sewer network to be improved by Southern Water. It was explained that whilst the Council did not have the exact details of the required network reinforcement at the current time, it would be something that the Council would expect to be completed by Southern Water over a two-year timeframe.

          The Committee

                     RESOLVED

That authority be delegated to the Director of Place or Group Head of Planning to approve the application subject to conditions as detailed in the report update following the expiry of 21 days from 18 November or a date that both Parish Councils have confirmed whether they propose to make any representations to the District Council, whichever is the sooner.