SOUTH) COMMITTEE 17Th June 2014
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
DCS140617 DEVELOPMENT CONTROL (SOUTH) COMMITTEE 17th June 2014 Present: Councillors: Roger Arthur, Adam Breacher, Philip Circus, Roger Clarke, George Cockman, David Coldwell, Ray Dawe, Brian Donnelly, Jim Goddard, David Jenkins, Sheila Matthews, Brian O’Connell, Sue Rogers, Kate Rowbottom, Jim Sanson, Diana van der Klugt Apologies: Councillors: Jonathan Chowen, Gordon Lindsay, Roger Paterson, Claire Vickers DCS/1 ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN RESOLVED That Councillor David Jenkins be elected Chairman of the Committee for the ensuing Council year. DCS/2 APPOINTMENT OF VICE-CHAIRMAN RESOLVED That Councillor Sheila Matthews be appointed Vice- Chairman of the Committee for the ensuing Council year. DCS/3 TIME OF MEETINGS RESOLVED That meetings of the Committee be held at 2.00pm for the ensuing Council year. DCS/4 MINUTES The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 20th May 2014 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. DCS/5 INTERESTS OF MEMBERS Member Item Nature of Interest Councillor George DC/13/1296 Personal – he knows both the Cockman applicant and a number of objectors Councillor David DC/13/1296 Personal – he knows one of the Coldwell speakers Development Control (South) Committee 17th June 2014 DCS/5 Interests of Members (Cont.) Councillor Sue DC/13/1296 Personal & prejudicial – she is a Rogers member of the Parish Council which has submitted an application for a similar proposal on a different site in Steyning DCS/6 ANNOUNCEMENTS The Chairman advised Members that this was Jocelyn Brown’s (Principal Solicitor) last meeting as she was leaving the Council. On behalf of the Committee he thanked her for her support and wished her well in her new job. DCS/7 APPEALS Appeals Lodged Written Representations/Household Appeals Service Ref No Site Appellant(s) DC/13/2420 Huddlestone Farm, Horsham Road, Huddlestone Farm Steyning Solar Park Ltd DC/13/2123 Upper Buncton House, Spithandle Mr Iain Flitcroft Lane, Wiston Informal Hearing Ref No Site Appellant(s) DC/13/0577 Parsons Field Stables, Pickhurst Ms Sarah Barnes Lane, Pulborough Appeals Withdrawn Ref No Site Appellant(s) DC/13/1674 Marnor, West End Lane, Henfield Mr and Mrs Ron Richardson DC/11/1654 Land East of Billingshurst To North Devine Homes PLC, and South of A272, East Street, Reside Billingshurst Developments Ltd 2 Development Control (South) Committee 17th June 2014 DCS/7 Appeals (Cont.) Appeal Decisions Ref No Site Appellant(s) Decision DC/13/1149 Gay Street Farm, Gay Street, Mr and Mrs Allowed Pulborough Julian Trumper DC/13/1150 Gay Street Farm, Gay Street, Mr and Mrs Allowed Pulborough Julian Trumper DC/13/0964 60 - 62 High Street, Steyning Ms Jess Denny Allowed DC/13/1460 Timbers, Fir Tree Lane, West Mr and Mrs Allowed Chiltington Kevin and Lisa Bennett DC/13/0787 Land at Junction of Stonepit Mr Rob Phillips Allowed Lane and West End Lane, Henfield DC/13/0658 1 Cootham Brow, New Town Mrs S Allowed Road, Storrington Partington DC/13/1596 Whitebridge Farm, Wineham Mrs Susie Dismissed Lane, Wineham Russell-Smith DC/13/1380 The Andes, High Street, Mr and Mrs R Dismissed Partridge Green Hamilton DC/13/0752 Land North of South Wood, Wates Dismissed Melton Drive, Storrington Developments It was agreed that all future reports on appeal decisions would indicate whether delegated decisions had been made by officers or in consultation with Members. DCS/8 PLANNING APPLICATION: DC/13/1296 – CONSTRUCTION OF A CONCRETE SKATE PARK IN THE CAR PARK AT REAR OF STEYNING LEISURE CENTRE AND INSTALLATION OF 20 REPLACEMENT CAR PARKING SPACES SITE: STEYNING LEISURE CENTRE, HORSHAM ROAD, STEYNING APPLICANT: MR PETER COMBER (Councillor George Cockman declared a personal interest in this application as he knew both the applicant and a number of objectors. Councillor David Coldwell declared a personal interest in this application as he knew one of the speakers. Councillor Sue Rogers declared a personal & prejudicial interest in this application as she was a member of the Parish Council which had submitted an application for a similar proposal on a different site in Steyning. She withdrew from the meeting and took no part in the determination of the application.) 3 Development Control (South) Committee 17th June 2014 DCS/8 Planning Application: DC/13/1296 (Cont.) The Development Manager reported that this application sought planning permission for the erection of a skate park within the existing car park of Steyning Leisure Centre and the installation of 20 replacement car parking spaces. The application had been deleted from the agenda for the meeting on 15th April 2014 in order to address a number of inaccuracies identified within the report at that time. The skate park facility would measure 20 metres by 18 metres and would be set into the existing ground level by approximately one metre. Whilst the design had yet to be finalised it was anticipated that it would include a range of elements including a mini ramp, steps, ramps and street features. It was proposed that there would be a beginners’ area and sufficient space on the two long sides of the park for skaters, bikers and spectators to assemble. Safety railings would be mounted on top of the quarter pipe platforms. An anti-climb weld-mesh fence, 2.8 metres in height and incorporating a lockable metal frame gate, would enclose the facility. Access would be via a single main entrance sited in the north west of the park. The skate park would be located in the south-east corner of the car park, resulting in the loss of 18 car parking spaces. However, 20 replacement car parking spaces were proposed to the north and west of the existing car park on land which currently formed part of the school playing field. It was also proposed to provide two speed control humps, sited at each end of the existing access road to the car park. It was anticipated that the opening hours of the facility would be from 3.30pm to lighting up time on school weekdays and from 10.00am to lighting up time on weekends and in school holidays. The application had been amended in response to the concerns of Sussex Police, including the removal of the north entrance gate, the provision of demarcation railings at the north west entrance, removal of sound deadening walls and confirmation of screened viewing areas. The application site was located to the east of Horsham Road where vehicular access was achieved. The access road ran parallel to Horsham Road and there was a grass bank to the western boundary of the site, which separated the leisure centre from the road, where numerous trees were sited. Steyning Grammar School was located to the south of the leisure centre and St Andrew’s Primary School was located to the east. The National Planning Policy Framework 2012: Sections 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12; National Planning Policy Guidance 2014 in respect of noise; Local Development Framework Core Strategy Policies CP1, CP3 and CP14; Local Development Framework General Development Control Policies DC2, DC9, DC21, DC22, DC40 and DC41; and the Horsham District Planning Framework preferred strategy were relevant to the determination of this application. 4 Development Control (South) Committee 17th June 2014 DCS/8 Planning Application: DC/13/1296 (Cont.) Relevant planning history included: ST/67/01 2-storey extension at Steyning Sports Granted Centre ST/47/90 Sports centre and floodlighting to external Granted multi-sport area at Steyning Grammar School ST/10/97 Erection of community swimming pool with Granted link to dry sports centre service area and car parking (outline) at Steyning Sports Centre ST/63/97 Single storey community swimming pool Granted with link to existing dry sports centre and parking at Steyning Sports Centre DC/13/0903 Construction of a concrete skatepark in Withdrawn the car park at rear of Steyning Leisure Centre and installation of 15 replacement car parking spaces The responses from statutory internal and external consultees, as contained within the report, were considered by the Committee. A letter of comment from the Parish Council was also reported. 68 letters of objection and 59 letters of support had been received. Steyning Grammar School, Steyning Grammar School Foundation Trust, West Sussex County Council (as land owner) and Steyning Leisure Centre objected to the proposal. Three members of the public spoke in objection to the proposal and two members of the public addressed the Committee in support of the application. Members, in considering the principle of the development, acknowledged that there was an established need for a street sports facility within Steyning. However, whilst the principle of creating a further sports facility within the village was considered acceptable, it was important that the associated impacts of the proposed development on the area were assessed in order to establish if the proposal was acceptable in planning terms. Policy DC9 advised that any new development should not cause unacceptable harm to the amenity of neighbouring occupiers or users of property or land through noise. Members were of the view that the proposal in its current location would have an impact on adjoining occupiers in this respect. Members were also concerned that, due to the proposed development’s isolated location to the rear of the Leisure Centre, fear of crime was also a consideration. In addition, and with particular regard to the likely age range of the users of the proposed facility, concern was expressed regarding the safety of the means of access to the site and the potential conflict between users of the skate park facility and the car park. 5 Development Control (South) Committee 17th June 2014 DCS/8 Planning Application: DC/13/1296 (Cont.) Members therefore considered that the proposal was not acceptable RESOLVED That planning application DC/13/1296 be determined by the Development Manager, in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee to allow refusal reasons relating to the isolated location of the proposed development (fear of crime), impact on adjoining occupiers (noise), safety of the means of access to the site and potential conflict between users of the proposed development and the car park to be formulated.