Agenda item

Ward:  West Chiltington, Thakeham and Ashington

Applicant:  Marcel Hoad

The Head of Development reported that this application sought permission for the demolition of the existing commercial storage buildings, workshop buildings and office building on the site and the erection of 7 dwellings comprising a mixture of detached and semi-detached properties, with associated parking and landscaping works.

The application site was located off Malthouse Lane in Ashington.  It consisted of a number of commercial buildings in light industrial, storage and office uses.  The site consisted of hardstanding areas to the north with soft landscaping to the south and extensive mature soft landscaping to the boundaries.  The site was not located within any defined built up area boundaries and so was not considered to be located in the countryside.

Ashington Parish Council objected to the application.  There had been 23 representations objecting to the application.  One objector spoke at the meeting, the meeting heard an audio recording from the applicant speaking in support of the application and a statement from the agent was read in support of this application.

Members considered the officer’s planning assessment which indicated that the key issues for consideration in determining the proposal were the principle of the development on the character of the dwellings and the visual amenities of the countryside, the amenities of the occupiers of adjoining properties and the highways impacts of the proposal.

There was a discussion around the fact that the application was for the erection of 7 dwellings and the demolition of existing buildings when there had been prior approval for the conversion of 9 dwellings.  The Head of Development indicated that the Planning Officers felt this to be an acceptable alternative, given the fallback position of the prior approval applications.  The Ward Members noted that the Officer’s report had said that on balance it was felt that approval should be given.  It was felt that this indicated some reluctance although the reduction from 9 to 7 dwellings would have been seen as a betterment.  The Ward Members felt it represented overdevelopment and wanted to see a smaller number of dwellings as it was felt that the development would spoil the character of the neighbourhood.  The Head of Development noted that the fact that there had been previous approval meant that the principle of residential development had been established at this site.

            RESOLVED

That planning application DC/19/1788 be granted subject to the conditions as reported and with the following additional condition:

The proposed dwellings hereby permitted shall not be occupied until a scheme for the provision of electrical vehicle charging points has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The scheme shall have regard to the requirements for electric vehicle charging within the latest West Sussex Parking Standards (2019). The approved scheme shall be installed prior to first occupation of the dwellings and shall thereafter remain as such.

Reason:  To provide electric vehicle car charging space for the use in accordance with Policies 35 and 41 of the Horsham District Planning Framework (2015) and the WSCC Parking Standards (2019).