Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Town Hall, Bexhill-on-Sea

Contact: Julie Hollands 

Media

Items
No. Item

PL21/12.

Minutes

To authorise the Chairman to sign the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on the 20 May 2021 as a correct record of the proceedings.

Minutes:

The Chairman was authorised to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 20 May 2021 as a correct record of the proceedings.

PL21/13.

Apologies for Absence and Substitutes

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J.M. Johnson, A.S. Mier and G.F. Stevens.

 

It was noted that Councillors J. Barnes and R.B. Thomas were present as substitutes for Councillors J.M. Johnson and A.S. Mier respectively.

PL21/14.

Disclosure of Interest

To receive any disclosure by Members of personal and disclosable pecuniary interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the Member regards the personal interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct.  Members are reminded of the need to repeat their declaration immediately prior to the commencement of the item in question.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest made.

PL21/15.

Planning Applications - Index pdf icon PDF 114 KB

Minutes:

Outline planning permissions are granted subject to approval by the Council of reserved matters before any development is commenced, which are layout, scale, appearance, access and landscaping.  Unless otherwise stated, every planning permission or outline planning permission is granted subject to the development beginning within three years from the date of the permission.  In regard to outline permissions, reserved matters application for approval must be made within three years from the date of the grant of outline permission; and the development to which the permission relates must begin no later than whichever is the later of the following dates: the expiration of three years from the date of the grant of outline permission or, the expiration of two years from the final approval of the reserved matters, or in the case of approval on different dates, the final approval of the last such matters to be approved.

 

In certain circumstances the Planning Committee will indicate that it is only prepared to grant or refuse planning permission if, or unless, certain amendments to a proposal are undertaken or subject to completion of outstanding consultations.  In these circumstances the Head of Service Strategy and Planning can be given delegated authority to issue the decision of the Planning Committee once the requirements of the Committee have been satisfactorily complied with.  A delegated decision does not mean that planning permission or refusal will automatically be issued.  If there are consultation objections, difficulties, or negotiations are not satisfactorily concluded, then the application will have to be reported back to the Planning Committee.  This delegation also allows the Head of Service Strategy and Planning to negotiate and amend applications, conditions, reasons for refusal and notes commensurate with the instructions of the Committee.  Any applications which are considered prior to the expiry of the consultation reply period are automatically delegated for a decision.

 

RESOLVED: That the Planning Applications be determined as detailed below.

PL21/16.

RR/2021/109/P - Valencia, Station Road, Northiam pdf icon PDF 446 KB

Minutes:

DECISION: REFUSE (PLANNING PERMISSION)

 

REASONS FOR REFUSAL:

 

1.   The proposed development by reason of its size, scale, design, position and extent of car parking, access road and turning head would result in an incongruous development that would erode the spaciousness of the locality and have an unacceptable impact on the character, layout and visual amenity of the area and wider context of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The proposal would represent an undesirable overdevelopment of the site, which would result in a cramped development with inadequate outdoor amenity space that is out of character with and detrimental to the amenity of the locality and future occupiers of the proposed semi-detached houses. As such the proposal would be contrary to Policies OSS4 and EN3 of the Rother Local Plan Core Strategy (2014), Policies DHG7(i), DEN1 and DEN2 of the Development and Site Allocations Local Plan (2019), objectives S2 and S3 of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan, the High Weald Housing Design Guide and paragraphs 70, 127 and 172 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

 

2.   The proposed semi-detached houses by reason of their close proximity to the neighbouring residential properties, combined with their associated activity (particularly vehicular movements) along with their proposed height and bulk, would result in an unneighbourly development that would introduce intrusive noise and disturbance along with an unacceptable loss of privacy and overbearing effect, contrary to Policy OSS4 (ii) of the Rother Local Plan Core Strategy (2014).

 

3.   Policy DHG (iv) (b) of the Rother Development and Site Allocations Local Plan requires 40% on-site affordable housing on schemes of 0.2 hectares or more. The submission indicates that two units would be self-build but there is no evidence to suggest that any initial owners have had any input into the design of the semi-detached houses. In any event, affordable housing provision is housing for sale or rent and would be expected to be secured by way of a legal agreement. The requirement for affordable housing to be a part of new developments is a recognised means whereby the planning system can contribute to improving access to housing for households not able to purchase or rent on the open market. In this way it promotes balanced and inclusive communities. With affordable housing not secured, the proposal fails to meet the policy requirements, contrary to Policy DHG (iv) (b) of the Rother Development and Site Allocations Local Plan and paragraph 62 and the definition of Affordable Housing in Annex 2 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

 

4.   The design and scale of the proposed detached house, particularly the front bay and single storey additions, does not reflect the established character of the area and would detract from rather than enhance the appearance of the area within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The two-storey appearance of the semi-detached houses appears at odds with the hierarchy of the site having a chalet bungalow at the front. As such the proposal  ...  view the full minutes text for item PL21/16.

PL21/17.

RR/2021/748/P - 5 Southcourt Avenue, Bexhill pdf icon PDF 466 KB

Minutes:

DECISION: GRANT (FULL PLANNING)

 

CONDITIONS:

 

1.   The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

Reason: In accordance with section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended by section 51 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004).

 

2.   The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans and details:

Location Plan; Drawing No. 6801/LBP dated March 2021.

Proposed Block Plan; Drawing No 6801/2/C dated Mar 21.

Proposed Layout; Drawing No. 6801/1/A dated Mar 21.

Reason: For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of proper planning.

 

3.   The materials to be used in the construction of the external surfaces of the development hereby permitted shall be as described within the application, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: To maintain the characteristics and the visual amenities of the surrounding area and the character and appearance of the conservation area, in accordance with Policies OSS4 (iii) and EN3 of the Rother Local Plan Core Strategy (2014) and Policy DHG9 of the Rother Development and Sites Allocation Local Plan.

 

4.   Prior to the relevant part of the works being carried out details of the new front boundary wall showing the full elevations shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  Development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

Reason: To maintain the characteristics and the visual amenities of the surrounding area and the character and appearance of the conservation area, in accordance with Policies OSS4 (iii) and EN3 of the Rother Local Plan Core Strategy (2014) and Policy DHG9 of the Rother Development and Sites Allocation Local Plan.

 

NOTES:

 

1.   The Applicant’s attention is drawn to the need for a S184 License for the construction of the access. The Applicant should contact East Sussex County Council on 01273 335443 prior to commencement of development to complete the agreement and pay the necessary fee.

 

2.   The Applicant should be made aware that the creation/alteration of an access will require compliance with the Traffic Management Act 2004 and that the contractor will have to book road space with the County Council’s Network Coordination team (0345 60 80 193).

 

NATIONAL PLANNING POLICY FRAMEWORK: In accordance with the requirements of the Framework (paragraph 38) and with the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015, the Local Planning Authority has acted positively and proactively in determining this application. As a result, the Local Planning Authority has been able to grant planning permission for an acceptable proposal, in accordance with the presumption in favour of sustainable development, as set out within the National Planning Policy Framework.

 

PL21/18.

Undetermined Major Planning Applications pdf icon PDF 120 KB

Minutes:

Members noted the report on the current status of nine undetermined Major Planning Applications.  Three were subject to a Section 106 obligation/completion, one was subject to shared access resolution, one had been delegated for approval, one was ongoing subject to discussions regarding the Habitat Regulations Assessment, one was awaiting amended submissions, one had been amended and re-advertised, and one had been amended and discussions were being held regarding affordable housing provision. 

 

It was noted that since the report had been compiled, some of the applications had progressed further; notably the Clavering Walk (RR/2020/2260/P) application was currently with the drainage authority and would be submitted for consideration as soon as possible.   

 

Members were concerned at the length of time that planning applications were currently taking to determine; it was confirmed that the average time was between 100 and 150 days, meaning that some were determined in less time and others more.  The Development Manager had previously advised the Committee on the resource issues within the Planning Department that had resulted in the current backlog of applications and delays in determination.  

 

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

PL21/19.

Planning Statistics for the Quarter January - March 2021 (including Summary of Planning Statistics for 2020/2021) pdf icon PDF 387 KB

Minutes:

PL21/20.

Appeals pdf icon PDF 131 KB

Minutes:

PL21/21.

Publication of Housing Delivery Test Action Plan - 2020 Measurement pdf icon PDF 201 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Housing Delivery Test (HDT) had been introduced by the Government to monitor whether local planning authorities were building enough homes to meet their housing need.  Published in January 2021, the HDT compared the number of new homes delivered over the previous three years with the Council’s housing requirement.  Results would be used to determine the buffer to apply in future housing land supply positions statements and whether the presumption in favour of sustainable development should apply.

 

Against a requirement of 1,035 dwellings, over the last three years, the Council had delivered 670 net dwellings (65%).  Results below 95% required an Action Plan (AP) to be developed to identify the reasons for under-delivery and the measures the Council intended to undertake to increase delivery of new housing.  The Council’s AP was attached to the report as Appendix 1. 

 

The Council was required to publish an AP within six months of publication of the HDT measurement.  The actions would be monitored in subsequent years through further APs and / or the Council’s Local Plan Monitoring Report.

 

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

PL21/22.

To note the date and time for future Site Inspections

Tuesday 10 August 2021 at 8:30am departing from the Town Hall, Bexhill.

Minutes:

PL21/23.

Vote of Thanks

Minutes:

On behalf of the Committee, the Chairman thanked Sam Batchelor, Development Manager for all his hard work, technical skills and support he had given to Members during his time at Rother District Council; Sam was leaving the authority to take up a position at a neighbouring authority.