Democracy in Crawley

How decisions are made and who represents you

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Rooms A & B - 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:

The following disclosures of interests were made:

 

Councillor

Item and Minute

Type and Nature of Interest

 

Councillor Ali

 

 

 

Planning Application CR/2023/0357/OUT – Former Pay and Display Car Park, Telford Place, Three Bridges

(minute 7)

Personal interest – a West Sussex County Councillor.

 

 

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:

 

All councillors present had been lobbied but had expressed no view on application CR/2021/0571/FUL.

 

Councillors Jaggard, K Khan, Y Khan, S Mullins, Mwagale, Nawaz, and Pritchard had been lobbied but had expressed no view on application CR/2023/0118/FUL.

 

Councillors Ali, Bounds, Jaggard, K Khan, Y Khan, S Mullins, Mwagale, Nawaz, and Pritchard had been lobbied but had expressed no view on application CR/2023/0357/OUT.

 

Councillors Nawaz and Pritchard had been lobbied but had expressed no view on Tree Preservation Order 07/2023.

 

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 160 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 14 November 2023.

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 14 November 2023 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

 

4.

Planning Application CR/2020/0274/FUL - Ambulance Station, Ifield Avenue, West Green pdf icon PDF 190 KB

To consider report PES/447aof the Head of Economy and Planning.

 

RECOMMENDATION to delegate the decision to PERMIT.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered report PES/447a of the Head of Economy and Planning which proposed as follows:

 

Demolition of existing ambulance centre and erection of 39 flats with associated parking and amenity space (addendum report).

 

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

 

The Acting Group Manager (Development Management) provided a verbal summation of the item which set out that the original application, which the Committee had previously resolved to permit subject to the finalising of certain details and the completion of a Section 106 agreement, had been delayed due to the Natural England Position Statement on Water Neutrality.  Work had since been undertaken to demonstrate that the proposed development would be water neutral.  The Officer then gave details of the various relevant planning considerations as set out in the report.

 

The Committee then considered the application.  It was highlighted that the only matter for consideration was water neutrality.  Following a query from a Committee member, the Officer outlined the consultation process with Natural England and highlighted that its comments were due to be received imminently.  If concerns were raised, Planning Officers would work with Natural England to address issues and reach a suitable conclusion, but reassurance was provided that the scheme did appear to demonstrate water neutrality so this was unlikely.

 

The Committee then moved to a vote on the application.

 

RESOLVED

 

Delegate the decision to permit the application to the Head of Economy and Planning subject to:

 

a)    the conclusion of consultation with Natural England under the Habitats Regulations;

b)    the finalising of the noise condition, the refuse/recycling store and other elevational treatment in line with the earlier Planning Committee resolution;

c)     the completion of the Section 106 Agreement;

 

and the conditions set out in report PES/447a.

 

5.

Planning Application CR/2021/0571/FUL - Land to the Front of Ewhurst Place, Ifield Drive, Ifield pdf icon PDF 427 KB

To consider report PES/447bof the Head of Economy and Planning.

 

RECOMMENDATION to REFUSE.

 

Minutes:

The Committee considered report PES/447b of the Head of Economy and Planning which proposed as follows:

 

Erection of 4 x three bedroom semi-detached dwellings with surrounding landscaping. Formation of two new vehicle access drives off Ifield Drive with associated garage and on-site parking.

 

Councillors Ali, Bounds, Charatan, Jaggard, S Mullins, Mwagale, Nawaz, and Pritchard declared they had visited the site.

 

The Group Manager (Gatwick Northern Runway DCO) provided a verbal summation of the application, which sought planning permission for the erection of four residential homes on an area of land forming part of the front curtilage of Ewhurst Place in Ifield.  It was explained that the Committee was recommended to refuse the application for the four reasons stated in report PES/447b.  The Officer then gave details of the various relevant planning considerations as set out in the report.

 

Peter Rainier, the agent (DMH Stallard), spoke in support of the application.  Matters raised included:

·       The trees within the curtilage of the site which had significant historic and amenity value were to be retained, including those visible from Ifield Drive. 

·       The trees proposed to be removed were mostly younger category C trees which formed low-level planting; they did not form a significant screen and had little amenity value.

·       An improved landscaping scheme was proposed.

 

Peter Rainier spoke on behalf of Lorraine King (Stantec) in support of the application.  Matters raised included:

·       Historic England was consulted regarding the potential impact of the application on the heritage of the site and had issued a non-intervention letter advising that it did not wish to comment.  This suggested that there were no significant issues with the proposals.

·       The site was separate to the historic moated area and was beyond an area of modern planting.  Nearby residential development had already impacted the site’s heritage.

·       The less than substantial harm on the heritage of the site would be significantly outweighed by the benefits, such as the provision of homes and jobs.

 

Trevor Harman, the applicant (Barclay Developments), spoke in support of the application.  Matters raised included:

·       The issue of water neutrality could be resolved if the application was to be given more time – the site had been earmarked to be part of Crawley Homes’ retrofitting programme and discussions were ongoing.

·       There would be ecological benefits to the application and measures were proposed that would encourage biodiversity.

·       A considerable amount of time and money had been spent on the application, and no objections had been raised by neighbours of the site.

 

Brenda Burgess, Councillor for Three Bridges, spoke in support of the application.  Matters raised included:

·       Previous developments constructed by the applicant were well-produced.

·       It was important to strike a balance between preserving the heritage of the site and finding a way to move forward with the application.

·       The application looked promising and of good quality.

 

The Committee then considered the application.  Further information was sought about the historic boundary that intersected the site and was marked by a tree belt which was proposed to be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Planning Application CR/2023/0118/FUL - Three Bridges Football Club, Jubilee Walk, Three Bridges pdf icon PDF 593 KB

To consider report PES/447cof the Head of Economy and Planning.

 

RECOMMENDATION to delegate the decision to PERMIT.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered report PES/447c and PES/447c(2) of the Head of Economy and Planning which proposed as follows:

 

Replacement of existing pitch with 3G football turf pitch (3G FTP) (8962 sq. metres) and associated works including erection of new fencing with entrance gates to form an enclosure around the pitch perimeter, replacement pitch barriers and installation of a storage container within the 3G FTP enclosure. Erection of 6 no. 15.0 m high floodlights around the 3G FTP perimeter with led luminaires. Resurfacing and extension of hard-standing areas. Erection of 2.5 m high acoustic fence.

 

Councillors Ali, Jaggard, S Mullins, Mwagale, Nawaz, and Pritchard declared they had visited the site.

 

The Principal Planning Officer provided a verbal summation of the application, which sought the removal of the existing grass football pitch and replacement with a synthetic 3G pitch (and related works) at Three Bridges Football Club.  The Officer highlighted that, since the publication of the initial report, an issue had arisen regarding encroachment of the proposed fence on to existing trees.  This had required a supplementary report to be published, which set out an additional condition in order to resolve the issue.  The Officer then gave details of the various relevant planning considerations as set out in the report.

 

Paul Faili, on behalf of the applicant, spoke in support of the application.  Matters raised included:

·       The current facilities were inadequate as they were not well-lit or safe for use in all weathers.  The installation of a 3G pitch would increase its versatility and resilience.

·       A 2020 report by the Council had identified a deficit of four full-size pitches in Crawley.  The proposals would double the number of users of the facilities.

·       The proposals would facilitate outreach work with local groups and community organisations and support the club’s youth development policy.

 

Brenda Burgess, Ward Councillor for Three Bridges, spoke on the application.  Matters raised included:

·       There were concerns that increased usage of the facilities would lead to greater noise levels at the site.

·       It was hoped that any disruption to local residents had been considered when taking into account increased light pollution and increased noise, such as from officials’ whistles.

·       The proposal would otherwise be a benefit to the local community.

 

The Committee then considered the application.  Following a query from a Committee member about the impact of construction works on neighbours of the site, the Officer confirmed that a construction management plan was required as part of condition 3 which would cover matters such as the delivery of materials and vehicular access to the site.  A query was also raised regarding the proposed floodlights, which were confirmed to be of the same height and position as the existing floodlights.  The lights were more efficient and a lighting impact assessment had been undertaken to ensure there was minimal glare to neighbours.

 

Committee members discussed the drainage proposals set out in the application.  It was recognised that the lack of irrigation needed for the proposed artificial pitch (compared to the existing grass  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Planning Application CR/2023/0357/OUT - Former Pay and Display Car Park, Telford Place, Three Bridges

Minutes:

The Committee considered report PES/447d of the Head of Economy and Planning which proposed as follows:

 

Outline application for up to 300 self-contained affordable residential units to provide later living (C2 use class) and affordable rent/shared ownership (C3 use class) accommodation with private and communal amenity space, two units for either commercial, business and service (E use class) or local community and learning (F use class) uses, creation of new vehicular access from Haslett Avenue East, closure of existing vehicular access from Southgate Avenue, formation of a new landscaped public realm area to the south of Crawley Library and ancillary facilities such as vehicle parking, cycle and bin stores and plant rooms (access and scale to be determined, with layout, appearance and landscaping forming reserved matters).

 

Councillors Ali, Charatan, Jaggard, S Mullins, Mwagale, Nawaz, and Pritchard declared they had visited the site.

 

The Acting Group Manager (Development Management) provided a verbal summation of the outline application, which sought permission for a development of residential units and associated works on a currently vacant site at Telford Place in Three Bridges.  It was explained that if the outline application were to be approved, a further application would be submitted to seek approval of the reserved matters (namely the layout, appearance, and landscaping).  These matters were therefore not to be considered or agreed at this stage.  The Officer updated the Committee that, since the publication of the report, discussions on pre-commencement conditions had taken place which had led to recommended amendments to conditions 11, 12, 13 and 15 as follows:

 

11. No development other than the construction of the approved highways access shall take place unless and until full details of the measures to be undertaken to divert and/or protect the public water supply main during construction works and the subsequent landscaping implementation have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The scheme shall be implemented in strict accordance with the agreed measures.

REASON: To ensure adequate protection for existing water supply infrastructure in accordance with Policy IN1 of the Crawley Borough Local Plan 2015-2030.

REASON why pre-commencement condition: As it relates to potential impact upon the public water supply main area starting with the setting up for construction activities and site preparation.

 

12. No development other than the construction of the approved highways access shall take place unless and until a Piling Method Statement (detailing the depth and type of piling to be undertaken and the methodology by which such piling will be carried out, including measures to prevent and minimise the potential for damage to subsurface sewerage infrastructure, and the programme for the works) has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Any piling must be undertaken in accordance with the terms of the approved Piling Method Statement, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

REASON: To protect nearby underground sewerage utility infrastructure and in accordance with Policy IN1 of the Crawley Borough Local Plan 2015-2030.

REASON why  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Crawley Borough Council Tree Preservation Order - Hazelwood, Balcombe Road, Pound Hill - 07/2023 pdf icon PDF 540 KB

To consider report PES/448 of the Head of Economy and Planning.

 

RECOMMENDATION to CONFIRM.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered report PES/448 of the Head of Economy and Planning which sought to determine whether to confirm the Tree Preservation Order (TPO) 07/2023 – Hazelwood, Balcombe Road, Pound Hill – with or without modification for continued protection, or not to confirm the TPO.

 

Councillors Ali and Jaggard declared they had visited the site.

 

9.

Guillotine

Minutes:

As per General Committee Procedure Rule 15.4, the guillotine process came into effect at 11.00pm:

 

a)    Any recommendations on the agenda that have not been dealt with will be deferred until the next scheduled meeting of the Committee.

b)    Any item already undergoing debate at 11.00pm will be concluded and voted upon rather than being deferred.

 

10.

Crawley Borough Council Tree Preservation Order - Hazelwood, Balcombe Road, Pound Hill - 07/2023

Minutes:

The Committee moved to a vote on the item.

 

RESOLVED

 

Confirm, without modification.