Agenda and minutes

Members and Officers are reminded to make any declarations of pecuniary, personal and/or prejudicial interests that they may have in relation to items on this agenda and are reminded that they should re-declare their interest before consideration of the item or as soon as the interest becomes apparent.

Members and officer should make their declaration by stating :

a) the application they have the interest in

b) whether it is a pecuniary, personal and/or prejudicial

c) the nature of the interest

d) if it is a prejudicial or pecuniary interest, whether they will be exercising their right to speak to the application

The Declaration of Interest Sheet set out below confirms those Members who had made a declaration of their personal interest as a Member of a Town or Parish Councillor or a West Sussex County Councillor, as confirmed in their Register of Interest as these declarations could apply to any of the issues to be discussed at the meeting:

Councillor Lury declared a Personal Interest for item 9 [BR/6/24/PL 1 ARGYLE ROAD, BOGNOR REGIS PO21 1DY] as he knows the applicant. He advised that he would withdraw from the debate on this item and leave the Chamber.

          Councillor Woodman declared a Personal Interest for item 10 [EP/15/24/HH 18 VERMONT WAY, EAST PRESTON BN16 1JX] as she had friends that live in the road the application was for.

          Councillor Hamilton declared a Personal Interest as a member of Pagham Parish Council.

          Councillor Kelly declared a Personal Interest and made an open-minded declaration for item 10 [EP/15/24/HH 18 VERMONT WAY, EAST PRESTON BN16 1JX]. He advised that he had completed a site visit prior to the meeting and would listen to the debate with an open mind and make his decision at the end having listened to all points discussed.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 17 April 2024.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 17 April 2024 were approved and signed by the Chair.

           There were no urgent items reported to the meeting.

Members are required to agree its meeting start time for the municipal year 2024-2025.

Councillor McDougall proposed that the start times for the Committee remain at 2pm. This was then duly seconded by Councillor Wallsgrove.

The Committee

                     RESOLVED

That the committees start time remain at 2pm for 2024/25 municipal year

Construction of extension to industrial unit. This application is in CIL Zone 4 (Zero Rated) as other development.

The Team Leader (Development Management) presented the report with an update report that had been published on the councils website on Tuesday 4 June 2024 which detailed a new condition (12) added to the application to ensure that the material used for the driveway was to be fully permeable to water.

The recommendation was then proposed by Councillor Wallsgrove and seconded by Councillor Partridge.

          The Committee

                     RESOLVED

                     That the application be APPROVED CONDITIONALLY.

Public Speakers

Mr Chris Chapman, Objector

Elaine Mayle, Objector

1 No. detached four-bedroom dwelling with associated off-road parking. This application may affect the setting of a listed building and is in CIL Zone 2 and is CIL Liable as a new dwelling.

The Senior Planning Officer presented the report with updates.

During the debate the following topics where discussed, the consultation comments received from the Principal Conservation Officer detailed that the development would still cause harm to the area. It was confirmed that whilst this was correct the key point for members to consider was that the development would not cause ‘additional harm’. Other comments made were that the new houses on the development were ‘out of keeping’ with surrounding houses, the Senior Planning Officer was not in agreement with this statement made. It was also confirmed that the ‘separation gap’ met the design guide recommendations. Finally, there were comments made relating to the hedge by the Tennis Court, however these were advised not to have any material planning considerations.

The recommendation was then proposed by Councillor Northeast and seconded by Councillor Partridge.

          The Committee

                     RESOLVED

                     That the application be APPROVED CONDITIONALLY.

          (Councillor Lury left the Chamber whilst the application was discussed and voted on.)

Conversion of an existing 2 storey, 4-bedroom end of terrace house into 2 No. 2 bedroom flats. This application is CIL Zone 4 (zero rated) as other development.

The Team Leader (Development Management) presented the report.

The recommendation was then proposed by Councillor Wallsgrove and seconded by Councillor Partridge.

The Committee

                     RESOLVED

That the application be REFUSED due to the propsal failing to secure the s106 agreement towards the provision of accessible natural open green spaces to serce the area as mitigation against recreational disturbance to the Pagham Harbour SPA. On this basis the proposal failed to accrod with ALP policy and ENV DM2.

(Councillor Kelly redeclared his Personal Interest and remade his opened minded declaration for the application. Councillor Woodman redeclared her Personal interest in the application.)

Public Speakers

Mark Turner, Agent

Ian Steer, Applicant

Paul Fox, Objector

Cllr Christine Bowman, EP Parish Council

Ruth Hughesdon, Objector

Demolition of rear sun lounge extension, single storey rear extension, loft conversion, addition of 2 No. dormers, Juliet balcony and external alterations.

The Team Leader (Development Management) presented the report with an update.

After Public Speakers had been heard the Chair invited the Team leader to respond and/or make comment on the statements that had been made by any of the public speakers. He addressed the following points, confirmed there were 3 parking spaces available on the site which was in line with the required guidance, confirmed that windows were to be obscured/glazed and that there was a condition in place to stop them from being changed, confirmed the height of the building would be no higher than it currently was and therefore was in line with the required guidance. Conformed that the Dorma windows were small and set back to avoid an ‘unacceptable impact on the street scene’ and finally he stated in relation to comment made about a ‘lack of sunlight after the build’ that whilst there would be ‘some overshadowing’ it had been concluded that this would not be of such significance that the application should be refused.

The recommendation was proposed by Councillor Woodman and seconded by Councillor Wallsgrove.

          Members then took part in a debate on the application where concerns were raised relating to the Juliett balcony where it was proposed by Councillor Partridge and seconded by Councillor Kelly to defer the application pending a site visit for members to inspect the balcony, however as debate continued it was clear there was a differing opinion from members. The Group head of Planning then asked the Team Leader to provide members with all the parts of the application that could be permitted under permitted development. After this information as provided to the committee a vote on the proposal to defer was taken with 0 voting For, 5 Against and 3 Abstentions the proposal FELL.

The substantive officer recommendation was then put to the vote.

          The Committee

                     RESOLVED

                     That the application be APPROVED CONDITIONALLY.

          (Adjournment taken at 15:11pm to deal with IT issues. Meeting readjourned at 15:17pm)

Public Speaker

Lawrence Haas, Objector

Application under Regulation 3 to vary condition 2 following the grant of LU/404/22/PL for improved access arrangements including altering the walkways and a minor repositioning of the single accessible beach hut.

The Team Leader (Development Management) presented the report.

The recommendation was then proposed by Councillor Northeast and seconded by Councillor Partridge.

          Members took part in a debate on the application where the following points were raised, a query on the material that would be used for the decking was asked and it was confirmed that at this point it was unknown, however the developer would choose a material that would be suitable for the area. Regarding the platform in front of the disabled access huts it was asked if there would be an ‘upward shield’ put in place to protect it from shingle and debris. It was confirmed it was to be a simple, flat deck and that with the exception of stormy weather where there may be a need for the council to manage any shingle or debris movement, this was not considered to be an issue outside of this exception. One member asked to relook at the block plan that had been presented by the officer and upon relooking at this it was stated that he had not been convinced the view would be compromised or intrusive and overall, he felt that the application was adding to the amenities available in Littlehampton.

           The Committee

                     RESOLVED

                     That the application be APPROVED CONDITIONALLY.

Public Speaker

Peter Cleveland, Agent

Demolition of 2 No. dwellings and garages and erection of 2 No. semi-detached dwellings. This application is in CIL Zone 4 and is CIL Liable as new dwellings.

The Senior Planning Officer presented the report with updates. After the public speaker was heard the Planning Officer was invited to respond to comments made.

The recommendation was proposed by Councillor Lury and seconded by Councillor Hamilton.

          Members then took part in a debate on the application where drainage, weather conditions and sea level rise concerns were expressed given the more recent history of flooding issues in the area. A suggestion to defer the application to have additional conditions added was made by Councillor Hamilton and seconded by Councillor Lury, however as the debate continued and members taking into account officer advice the proposal was WITHDRAWN and the officer recommendation was then put to the vote.

          The Committee

                     RESOLVED

                     That the application be REFUSED.

Public Speakers

Matt Utting, Agent

Cllr David Huntley, Ward Member

Erection of 44 No. dwellings with garaging, covered and open resident and visitor parking with new access from internal road serving Osborne Refrigerators and improvements to existing access off Rose Green Road (resubmission following P/111/22/PL). This application falls within Strategic Site SD2 and is in CIL Zone 1 (Zero Rated).

The Team Leader (Development Management) presented the report with updates, he advised that since newer plans had been submitted and received the wording of conditions 2 and 3 would need a slight amendment. After Public Speakers had been heard the Team Lader was invited back to make any comment, where he stated that the application contained 2 parking spaces over the requirement. He then addressed the noise concerns raised and regarding S106 fund he confirmed that these were being received. He explained the Pedestrian access was deemed to be safe and the comments made referring to the Brent Geese he confirmed that no serious harm was to be caused. Finally, he addressed the comments made regarding Readon Gas stating that this area would be dealt with by Building Control.

The recommendation was then proposed by Councillor Northeast and seconded by Councillor Wallsgrove.

          Members then took part in a debate on the application where the following points were raised, concern regarding West Sussex County Council Education requirements, a query on how the s106 contribution figure was arrived at to deal with these concerns, concerns relating to the shared pedestrian crossing and vehicle roadway with the suggestion that a further vehicle survey could be needed. Drainage and flooding concerns were raised again, and the location of the affordable housing being located by the factory was discussed. Concern relating to biodiversity net gain for on site was raised along with what safety provisions had been considered for vehicles that would require to turn into the factory site.   The Team Leader provided answers to all queries and concerns raised.

          On taking the vote on the officer recommendation, the vote FELL and after further debate it was proposed by Councillor Wallsgrove and seconded by Councillor Blanchard-Cooper that the application be deferred to allow for further investigation to be undertaken for the pelican crossing and into the distribution of affordable housing on site. Those voting For deferral were, Councillors Blanchard-Cooper, Hamilton, Kelly, Lury, McDougall, Northeast, Partridge, Wallsgrove and Woodman (9), there were no votes Against and no Abstentions.

          The Committee

RESOLVED

that the application be DEFERRED.

Public Speaker

Cllr Huntley, Ward Member

Variation of condition 13 imposed under P/30/19/OUT (which was the subject of a Section 106 agreement) relating to rewording of condition to 'Prior to occupation of the 300th dwelling...'.

The Principal Planning Officer presented the application. After the public speaker, the Principal Planning Officer was invited to make any comment and the officer reconfirmed that the application pertained to changes to the timing of the submission of a drainage verification report only. Matters relating to detailed drainage designs and flood calculations were not for consideration under this application, and related to details reserved by condition. Principal matters, such as agricultural land, BNG, Brent Geese, were also matters not for consideration at this application.

The recommendation was then proposed by Councillor Wallsgrove and seconded by Councillor Partridge.

 One member reclarified that they were only being asked to vote on the  variation of condition 13 which did not include any detailed drainage designs, which was confirmed by the Principal Planning Officer.

          The Committee

                     RESOLVED

                     That the application be APPROVED CONDITIONALLY.

This report is to update the committee on the end of year performance of the Vision indicators for the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. 

          The Group Head of Planning presented the report to members and invited questions and comments on the detail included within the report.

         Members noted the report.

The Group Head of Planning presented the report to members and invited questions and comments on the detail included within the report.

          Councillor Wallsgrove stated it should be noted that Arun District Council was no.3 on the league table. Members then noted the report.

          Members noted the appeals list.