Agenda and minutes

In accordance with the Council's Code of Conduct, Councillors of the Council are reminded that it is a requirement to declare interests where appropriate.

The following disclosures of interests were made:

The Planning Code of Conduct requires Councillors who have been lobbied, received correspondence or been approached by an interested party with respect to any planning matter should declare this at the meeting which discusses the matter. Councillors should declare if they have been lobbied at this point in the agenda.

The following lobbying declaration was made by a Member:- 

Councillor P C Smith had been lobbied regarding application CR/2017/0596/FUL.

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To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 7 November 2017

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 7 November 2017 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider report PES/242 (a)of the Head of Economic and Environmental Services.

RECOMMENDATION to APPROVE.

The Committee considered report PES/242 (a) of the Head of Economic and Environmental Services which proposed as follows:

Approval of reserved matters for Phase 3B for 151 dwellings and associated works pursuant to CR/2015/0552/NCC for a mixed use neighbourhood (amended description and amended plans received).

The Principal Planning Officer provided a verbal summation of the application and the following updates:-

·         Following concerns it had raised regarding drainage on to the M23 motorway, Highways England had since confirmed that it had no objection to the revised details received  and acknowledged the condition 16 submission will deal with the site wide drainage strategy and management  and there were detailed conditions on the reserved matters for the bund and fence along the motorway..

·         In respect of road noise, late comments had been received from the Council’s Environmental Health Department about the noise modelling report.  In response, the Applicants had advised that those comments would be taken on board for the detailed proposals for noise mitigation under condition 34 and they were confident that the noise barriers would provide for the necessary mitigation together with the specific measures for the houses. This was consistent with the approach taken for Phases 3A and 4A.

·         Delete Condition 12 as set out in the report and replace as below:

Condition 12

Prior to first occupation, the following windows on the residential flats shall be glazed with obscured glass as shown on the approved plans:

Plot 129 south elevation

Plot 130 south elevation         

Plot 134 south elevation

Plot 135 south elevation

Plot 136 south elevation

Plot 148 west elevation

These windows shall thereafter be permanently maintained in accordance with the agreed details.

REASON: To protect the amenities and privacy of future occupiers in accordance with policy CH3 of the Crawley Borough Local Plan 2015 -2030.

Ms Laura Humphries, the Agent, addressed the Committee in support of the application.

The Committee then considered the application.  In response to the issues raised, the Principal Planning Officer:

·         Confirmed that the amended plans now showed an increased provision of visitor car parking spaces throughout the scheme, especially in the areas of the flats.

·         Explained that in terms of those dwellings where there was a 20m separation distance of habitable room window to window relationship, these dwellings were affordable housing, and whilst the amended plans had endeavoured to ensure that the separation distances were compliant with the Urban Design UPD’s minimum requirement of 21m, it had not been possible to revise this any further due to physical constraints of the layout.

·         Advised that with regard to the 26 dwellings that did not meet the garden size standards, some were private dwellings whilst others were affordable. (Garden sizes were set out as guidance not policy)

·         Explained further that the scheme had now been amended and redesigned to a point where the additional rear garden space for these dwellings could not be achieved without resulting in harm to the aesthetic urban environment, the public realm and soft landscaping. 

·         Indicated that given the location of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To consider report PES/242 (b)of the Head of Economic and Environmental Services.

RECOMMENDATION to PERMIT

The Committee considered report PES/242 (b) of the Head of Economic and Environmental Services which proposed as follows:

Temporary permission to allow continued use of school for one further academic year with a maximum of 537 pupils

Councillors Jaggard, P C Smith, Stone and Thomas declared they had visited the site.

The Principal Planning Officer provided a verbal summation of the application and the following updates:-

·         Delete Conditions 1, 3 and 4 as set out in the report and replace as below:

Condition 1

The use(s) of land/building(s) hereby permitted shall be discontinued permanently and the land restored to its former condition, or to a condition to be agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority, on or before the expiration of the period ending 31st August 2018.

REASON: The Local Planning Authority would not normally grant permission for such a development in this location but under the circumstances prevailing it is considered reasonable to make an exception in this instance and to allow the development for a limited period.

Condition 3

The school hereby permitted shall operate with a maximum number of 537 pupils, comprising 237 primary pupils and 300 secondary pupils, as set out in the application.

REASON: To control the operation of the school in the interests of highway safety, the character and function of Manor Royal as a main employment area and to provide a suitable level of development for the site, in accordance with policies SD1,CH3, EC1, EC2, EC3 and IN4 of the Crawley Borough Local Plan 2015 – 2030.

Condition 4

The development hereby approved shall be carried out in accordance with the Travel Plan dated December 2017 and document titled “Reponses to WSCC Highways Comments dated 21 August 2017” unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

REASON: In the interests of highway safety, to reduce the need for private car travel to the school and to encourage and promote sustainable transport, in accordance with policies SD1, CH3 and IN4 of the Crawley Borough Local Plan 2015 – 2030.

·         WSCC Highways Authority had advised that they had reviewed the information submitted for this application, and following amendments to the Travel Plan and given the small increase in both pupil and staff numbers over the previous temporary permission, for a further year, it was raising no objections, subject to conditions.

·         The Applicants had asked for the following additional areas of Planning Policy to be highlighted:

(i) Section 72 of Paragraph 8 (Promoting Healthy Communities) of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (2012).

(ii) The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) Planning for Schools Development (2011).  

Mr Tom Lambshead, the Agent, and Mr Tim McCarthy, CEO of Aurora Academies Trust, addressed the Committee in support of the application.

The Committee then considered the application.  A number of Members expressed concerns that the provision of this educational facility was not in a sustainable location, was in an unsuitable environment, and did not relate to the character of its surroundings.  In response  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To consider report PES/242 (c)of the Head of Economic and Environmental Services.

RECOMMENDATION to PERMIT.

The Committee considered report PES/242 (c) of the Head of Economic and Environmental Services which proposed as follows:

Upgrade of the existing footpath close to the junction with College Road along County Mall to a shared pedestrian and cycle path in order to create a continuous link to the existing toucan crossing at the junction.  This short length area will be upgraded to a 3.5m wide shared path. (Amended plans received).

Councillors Jaggard, P C Smith, Stone, Tarrant and Thomas declared they had visited the site.

The Group Manager (Development Management) provided a verbal summation of the application.

The Committee then considered the application.

RESOLVED

Permit, subject to the conditions set out in report PES/242 (c)

To consider report PES/242 (d) of the Head of Economic and Environmental Services.

RECOMMENDATION to PERMIT.

The Committee considered report PES/242 (d) of the Head of Economic and Environmental Services which proposed as follows:

Manor Royal cycle path scheme to connect Crawters Brook shared facility with the existing cycle path on Manor Royal which stops just before Newton Road through the upgrade of existing pedestrian footways to shared facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.

Councillor P C Smith declared he had visited the site.

The Group Manager (Development Management) provided a verbal summation of the application.

The Committee then considered the application, whilst indicating its support for the proposals.  In response to issues raised, the Group Manager (Development Management):

·         Confirmed that the submitted Arboricultural Method Statement identified measures to safeguard the trees on the application site including the root protection areas.

·         Emphasised that there would be no removal of highway trees.

RESOLVED

Permit, subject to the conditions set out in report PES/242 (d)

To consider report PES/242 (e)of the Head of Economic and Environmental Services.

RECOMMENDATION to PERMIT.

The Committee considered report PES/242 (e) of the Head of Economic and Environmental Services which proposed as follows:

Erection of external supply pipes to all existing flats.  Vertical pipework to be 63mm diameter with horizontal spurs.

Councillors Jaggard and Tarrant declared they had visited the site

The Group Manager (Development Management) provided a verbal summation of the application.

The Committee then considered the application. In response to issues raised, the Group Manager (Development Management):-

·         Indicated that the Planning Authority did not specifically state by condition thatbrackets and fixings required to attach the pipes to the building should be finished in black.  This could be rectified by way of an amendment to Condition 3, as follows: 

Amended wording to Condition 3

The pipes hereby approved including any brackets and fixings required to attach the pipes to the building shall be finished in matt black unless otherwise approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

·         Confirmed that installation of the pipes would be into each flat.

RESOLVED

Permit, subject to the conditions set out in report PES/242 (e), and the updated Condition 3 above.

To consider report PES/242 (f)of the Head of Economic and Environmental Services.

RECOMMENDATION to PERMIT.

The Committee considered report PES/242 (f) of the Head of Economic and Environmental Services which proposed as follows:

Erection of an aviary measuring 32.5m long x 8.1m wide, and 5.2m max height with external materials comprising timber uprights, painted mesh and viewing windows.

The Group Manager (Development Management) provided a verbal summation of the application.

The Committee then considered the application. 

An amendment was required in respect of the “Applicants Name” recorded near the top of the first page of the report, which should read “Crawley Borough Council”

RESOLVED

Permit, subject to the conditions set out in report PES/242 (f)

To consider report PES/263 of the Head of Economic and Environmental Services.

The Group Manager (Development Management) introduced report PES/263which sought to determine whether to confirm this Tree Preservation Order (TPO)with or without modification for continued protection or, not to confirm the TPO.

Having considered the issues raised in the report, the Committee agreed to confirm the TPO without modification.

RESOLVED

Confirmed.

Any urgent item(s) complying with Section 100(B) of the Local Government Act 1972.