Agenda item

To receive a report from the Director of Place.

Councillors Nigel Jupp and Paul Marshall, having declared personal and prejudicial interests, withdrew from the meeting for this item.  Councillor Christian Mitchell arrived during consideration of the item and, having also declared a personal and prejudicial interest, withdrew from the meeting for the remainder of the item.

The Principal Planning Officer submitted a report indicating that, in accordance with Paragraph 3.6.2(d) of the Council’s Constitution, planning application DC/18/2687 – Former Novartis Site, Parsonage Road, Horsham had been referred from Planning Committee (North) to Council for determination by the Director of Place as she was of the opinion that the Committee was minded to make a decision that could result in significant costs to the Council.

The report originally submitted to Planning Committee (North),which contained details of the outline planning application, relevant policies, planning history, the outcome of consultations and a planning assessment of the proposal, was also presented together with additional information addressing questions raised at the Committee and other relevant updates.

The application was for the erection of up to 300 dwellings (C3) (including the conversion of existing offices buildings 3 and 36), up to 25,000sqm of employment (B1) floorspaces and provision of 618sqm of flexible commercial/community space (A1 A2 A3 D1 (Crèche) use classes) within the ground floor of converted building 36.  The scheme included improvements to existing pedestrian and vehicular accesses from Parsonage Road and Wimblehurst Road, together with associated parking and landscaping.

The Principal Planning Officer gave a presentation showing plans and photographs of the existing site and plans relating to the proposed development.

Three members of the public spoke in objection to the application.  Two representatives of the applicant and the applicant’s agent spoke in support of the proposal.  Representatives of North Horsham Parish Council and Horsham Denne Neighbourhood Council spoke in objection to the application.

It was moved and seconded that the recommendations contained in the report be approved.

An amendment was then moved by Councillor Claire Vickers and seconded by Councillor Karen Burgess that, in view of the significant concerns expressed in respect of highway safety, consideration of this application be deferred to the next meeting to provide reassurance to Members that the road safety audit is robust by allowing Peter Brett Associates to carry out an independent review of the submitted road safety audit and to report to the Council thereon; and to seek further information in respect of the proposed car parking strategy and provision.

Members discussed the proposed amendment, during which Councillor Vickers indicated that she was willing to accept an addition to her proposal to include seeking the views of Sussex Police in respect of road safety.

It was then:

RESOLVED

That consideration of application DC/18/2687 be deferred to the next meeting to provide reassurance to Members that the road safety audit is robust by allowing Peter Brett Associates to carry out an independent review of the submitted road safety audit and to report to the Council thereon; to seek the views of Sussex Police in respect of road safety; and to seek further information in respect of the proposed car parking strategy and provision.