Agenda item

The Head of Development reported that this application sought permission for a change of use from public house to children's day nursery. The proposal included rear extensions, changes to elevations including windows, and surfacing the garden area predominantly with artificial grass. The car park would be rearranged to increase space for the garden whilst retaining the 17 parking spaces.

The application site was located in the built-up area of Horsham on the eastern side of Pondtail Road and was the site of the Rising Sun, which had ceased trading in June 2017. There was an embankment leading up to the railway line along the western boundary, and detached dwelling along Pondtail Road.

Details of relevant government and council policies and relevant planning history, as contained within the report, were noted by the Committee. The responses from statutory internal and external consultees, as contained within the report, were considered by the Committee. 

An addendum to the report had been circulated to Members with further detailed comments from the Highway Authority, which concluded that there was no objection subject to: a pedestrian barrier in the entrance off the footway; and parking restrictions, should these prove necessary following parking surveys before and three months after the opening of the nursery.  A legal agreement would be required to secure funding for implementing parking restrictions and therefore a revised recommendation requiring the completion of a legal agreement was included in the addendum.  

North Horsham Parish Council raised no objection to the application, and since publication of the report had provided additional comments regarding the need for the Highway Authority’s and local residents’ concerns to be addressed. Denne Neighbourhood Council raised no objection in principle but had concerns regarding pedestrian safety and access.  The Local Member raised a number of concerns. Nineteen letters of objection from 15 households had been received, including one since publication of the report. Since publication of the report the applicant had contacted Members of the Committee setting out key points regarding the application.

Three members of the public spoke in objection to the application.  The applicant and the applicant’s transport consultant both spoke in support of the application, and the applicant’s agent spoke, on behalf of the applicant’s acoustic consultant, in support of the proposal.  

Members considered the officer’s planning assessment which indicated that the key issues for consideration in determining the proposal were: loss of the public house; the need for a children’s nursery; highway safety, transport and highway issues; impact on occupiers of neighbouring properties; and the character and appearance of the street scene.

Members were concerned that an overwhelming majority of pupils would arrive by car, given the wide catchment area of the nursery, and discussed the potential impact that additional traffic movements could have on Pondtail Road.  They were concerned that the Road Safety Audit and conclusions of the Highway Authority had underestimated the level of traffic movements that would be generated, and that it was not robust enough, given the narrowness of Pondtail Road, the speed of existing traffic and the restricted nature of the site itself. 

After detailed debate the Committee concluded that the application should be deferred to allow for further discussion with the Highway Authority so that the robustness of the Road Safety Audit could be tested.  Members suggested that during deferment of the application, Local Members should attend a site visit with officers.

RESOLVED

That planning application DC/17/1704 be deferred to allow for the Road Safety Audit to be reviewed through further discussions with the Highway Authority, in consultation with the Local Members.