Issue - meetings

Ward: Rusper and Colgate  Applicant: Hasnain Mohsin

The Head of Development reported that this application sought permission for the change of use from residential dwelling to mixed use residential unit on the first floor, religious meeting hall, and place of worship for the local Shia Muslim community. The proposal included a rear extension and a two storey meeting hall with a glazed link to the extension.  There would be landscaping and alterations to the access. The floor space of the building would increase by approximately 277%.

The application site was located in the countryside to the north of Ifield at the junction of Bonnetts Lane and Charlwood Road.  It was a two storey detached house accessed off Charlwood Road. There was a bungalow to the rear of Stafford House. The site was approximately 170 metres from the boundary with Crawley Borough and residential properties in Langley Green and Ifield. Stafford House was currently being used for prayer meetings by the local Shia Muslim community.

Details of relevant government and council policies as contained within the report, were noted by the Committee.  Relevant planning history, in particular DC/11/1350, and the history of enforcement notices were also noted.  The responses from statutory internal and external consultees, as contained within the report, were considered by the Committee.

The Parish Council strongly objected to the application. Crawley Borough Council had commented on the social and religious benefits of the proposal. Nineteen letters of objection from ten households, eleven letters of support, and one letter of comment had been received.  One member of the public spoke in objection to the application and a representative of the applicant spoke in support of it.

Members considered the officer’s planning assessment which indicated that the key issues for consideration in determining the proposal were: the principle of development; highway safety, transport and highways; the impact on neighbouring occupiers; and the impact on the character and appearance of the street scene.

Whilst Members were sympathetic to the aims and objectives of the scheme, they considered the location to be inappropriate and concluded that the harm caused by the intensification of use of the site would significantly outweigh the benefits of the proposal. 

Members suggested that relevant officers should be asked to support the applicants in finding an acceptable location for use by the local Shia Muslim community.

RESOLVED

That planning application DC/17/1827 be refused for the following reason:

The change of use of the property as proposed would result in an intensification of the use of the site to the detriment of the amenity of occupiers of the neighbouring properties and the rural character and nature of the locality. The proposal would therefore be contrary to policies 2, 25, 26, 32 and 33 of the Horsham District Planning Framework (2015).