Democracy in Crawley

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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room C - Town Hall. View directions

Contact: Email: Democratic.Services@crawley.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

1.

Disclosures of Interest

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

 

Minutes:

No disclosures of interests were made.

 

2.

Lobbying Declarations

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

 

Minutes:

The following lobbying declarations were made by councillors:

 

Councillors Ali, Burrett, Jaggard, K Khan, S Mullins, Mwagale, Pritchard, Raja, and Sivarajah had been lobbied but had expressed no view on application CR/2022/0187/FUL – Land to the North of Fleming Way (Eastman House and former Flight Training Centre), Manor Royal.

 

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 64 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 10 January 2023.

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 10 January 2023 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

 

4.

Planning Application CR/2022/0187/FUL - Land to the North of Fleming Way (Eastman House and Former Flight Training Centre), Manor Royal, Crawley pdf icon PDF 492 KB

To consider report PES/410aof the Head of Economy and Planning.

 

RECOMMENDATION to PERMIT.

 

Minutes:

The Committee considered report PES/410a of the Head of Economy and Planning which proposed as follows:

 

Demolition of existing buildings to provide two commercial buildings (Units A and B) for storage and distribution (B8) use with ancillary offices, with associated enabling works, access (including new access for Unit A off Hydehurst Lane), parking and landscaping.

 

Councillors Ali, Burrett, Jaggard, and Mwagale declared they had visited the site.

 

The Principal Planning Officer provided a verbal summation of the application, which sought permission for the construction of two buildings for storage and distribution use on a 4.3 hectare site within the Manor Royal Main Employment Area.  The Officer updated the Committee that, since the publication of the report, an additional representation had been received from the Planning Department at Gatwick Airport (GAL) regarding the safeguarding boundary for the possible development of a second runway.  Further information had also been provided by the applicant, and subsequent discussion had led to amendments to conditions 9 and 23 which were now to read as follows:

·       Condition 9: The development hereby approved shall be carried out in accordance with the details set out within the submitted Sustainability Statement for Planning, prepared by CPW dated 23rd February 2022 (Ref: 210911). The scheme shall be fully implemented in accordance with the approved details and any sources of renewable energy installed and made operational prior to the first occupation of the development hereby approved and the sustainability measures shall be retained thereafter unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

·       Condition 23:  Within six months of the first occupation of any commercial unit forming part of the development, a copy of a post-construction report, verifying that the unit or the commercial element of the development as a whole has achieved the minimum Energy and Water standards for BREEAM ‘Excellent’, shall be submitted to and agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

 

The Committee heard that it had also been necessary to amend the recommendation, so the following clause was to be added to the recommendation in report PES/410a:  Agreement to revised condition 2 listing the amended drawings for Earthworks and External Materials as current versions (as listed in the agenda) do not reflect retained trees.  The Officer then gave details of the various relevant planning considerations as set out in the report.

 

Anthony Watkins, the applicant, spoke in support of the application.  Matters raised included:

·       The existing buildings at the site were no longer suitable; the proposed development would provide a high quality, flexible space which was hoped to attract many types of occupier.

·       The objection from GAL regarding the airport’s safeguarding boundary was noted, but it was felt that greater weight should be given to the current Local Plan than the emerging Local Plan.

·       The proposals had demonstrated water neutrality, a net biodiversity gain, a reduction in carbon emissions, and a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating.

 

The Committee then considered the application.  Discussion ensued regarding the location of the Gatwick Airport safeguarding boundary as set out  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Planning Application CR/2022/0503/FUL - 1-19 (odds) Crompton Way, Northgate, Crawley pdf icon PDF 431 KB

To consider report PES/410bof the Head of Economy and Planning.

 

RECOMMENDATION to PERMIT.

 

Minutes:

The Committee considered report PES/410b of the Head of Economy and Planning which proposed as follows:

 

Demolition of existing buildings and erection of 3 no. buildings for use class B8 including details of access, servicing, landscaping and boundary treatments, and associated infrastructure and earthworks (amended description).

 

Councillors Ali, Burrett, Jaggard, and Mwagale declared they had visited the site.

 

The Group Manager (Development Management) provided a verbal summation of the application, which sought permission for the construction of one large building split into three separate units for commercial use within the Manor Royal Business District.  The Officer updated the Committee that, since the publication of the report, one amendment to a condition and one additional condition were required as follows:

·       Amended condition 4: No part of the development shall be first occupied until the vehicular access serving the development has been constructed in accordance with plans and details submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

·       Additional condition 30: Prior to the first occupation of any unit, the package of mitigation measures, as detailed in the KAM Costing for Showers Document dated V2 Jan 23, shall be implemented in full, unless otherwise approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. 

REASON: To ensure that the development does not have a negative impact on air quality in accordance with Policy ENV12 of the Crawley Borough Local Plan 2015 – 2030 and to accord with the air quality mitigation contained within the submitted Emissions Mitigation Statement provided by TRC dated November 2022.

 

It was also highlighted that the amount of Manor Royal contribution stated in paragraph 5.51 of the report was incorrect, so this figure was to be amended.  The Officer then gave details of the various relevant planning considerations as set out in the report.

 

Joshua Mellor, the agent, spoke in support of the application.  Matters raised included:

·       The proposed development was for storage or distribution use, which was a supported use within the Manor Royal Business District and would enhance the role and function of the area.

·       The applicant had worked closely with the Council’s Planning Officers to make positive changes to the design and landscaping of the proposals.

·       Water neutrality and a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating were achieved through energy-saving means such as water-efficient fittings, PV panels, and heat pumps.

 

The Committee then considered the application.  Committee members raised queries regarding the proposed parking and access at the site, to which the Planning Officer provided clarification.  It was confirmed that the creation of new accesses along the south edge of the site would not cause any loss of on-street parking as there were currently double yellow lines along that section of Crompton Way.  A further concern was raised regarding a shortfall of lorry parking spaces at each of the three units.  The Officer clarified that the precise layout of the car park was a decision for the future tenant so was subject to change, however the over-provision of car parking spaces at Units 1 and 3 ensured that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.