Decision and No Decision

As you know there were two planning committee meetings in the last week.

The Parish Council Planning Committee Meeting was on Tuesday night.  Ian Tovey spoke in the public participation section.  He highlighted the original reasons for refusal of the application that of traffic congestion and pollution which would be made worse by this development.  He went on to remind Councillors that the Secretary of State had upheld the refusal of planning permission for College Lane as the local gap still served a valid planning purpose and could be accorded significant weight.

Your Parish Councillors resolved to continue their refusal and objection to this application and that they would urge Mid Sussex District Council to do likewise.  Councillor Les Campbell agreed to represent the Parish Council at the District Planning Committee which took place on Thursday.  They also resolved to obtain further information about taking a more active role in the Appeal process.  An interim Planning Meeting has been arranged for 10:00 am on Tuesday 25 November 2014 to consider the information available.

The District Planning Committee was a little different.  The pubic were not allowed to make any representation to the meeting, something which many of us consider undemocratic.  In fact our Councillors had to work hard just so that they could speak.  We were told that as they were reconsidering a previous decision there was no requirement to allow the public time to speak.

Nevertheless Councillors Campbell, Hatton and Petch spoke for three minutes each and put forward robust, compelling and persuasive arguments.  They were also joined by our Ward Cllr Peter Martin.

We heard a statement from the Case Officer which was no more than the report she had already publicised.  The Appellants plans for the redesign of Stonepound Crossroads was revealed.  I noticed that in fact the plans were published on the planning portal late on 18 November 2014, one wonders when in fact the Officers received it and why it was not publicised in time for Councillors and the public to examine.

The plan, it seems, is to widen Stonepound in Hurst Road and tinker with the traffic light sequence.  We also learnt that the traffic light software was actually updated on 15 July 2014 and the sequencing "improved".  You might want to drop an e-mail to Councillors to let them know how these improvements have gone.

District Councillors questioned the Case Officer and the Highways Authority representative.  To describe their performance as lack lustre and without substance is not overstating the paucity of their responses.  The Highways Authority representative was asked on several occasions to quantify the improvements the scheme were supposed to provide - he was completely unable to.  The Environmental Health Officer was equally unable to provide anything specific.  Councillors were asked to simply take Officers word for it.

Thankfully Councillors decided that this was not sensible or credible in the face of scrutiny.  They resolved to defer any decision until the next available District Planning Committee meeting, which is 11 December 2014.  Officers were asked to provide data which can be examined to substantiate their assertions.  Interestingly we were told that data would not be available from the Highways Authority for at least three weeks, which will be 11 December.  How can any independent analysis be made if this is the case?  You might like to ask the Case Officer.

Councillors did ask Officers what independent analysis had been made of the claims, the answer was none.  Councillors suggested that MSDC should undertaken their own surveys and conduct their own analysis.

We must conclude that the Appeal will continue.  Please do make sure the Planning Inspector has your comments before 3 December 2014.

Planning Meetings

There are two planning meetings this week which relate to the Appeal made by Gleeson.

Monday 17 November 2014 at 19:30 in the Parish Centre, Adastra Park, Hassocks

This is a meeting in public during which the public are given 15 minutes to address Councillors about matters which appear on the agenda.  The Parish Council will write to Mid Sussex District Council with any recommendations which come from the meeting.

Thursday 20 November 2014 at 14:00 in the Council Chamber, Haywards Heath

This is a meeting in public however the public are NOT being given the opportunity to speak.  You are perfectly within your right to go along and listen to what is discussed and the decisions which are made.

Document previews

Google are no longer supporting file viewing and distribution so you may find that some of the published documents are no longer available.  I am working through a different solution starting with the most recent documents.  All the links should still be working though.

If you would like a document that is not visible send me a message from the Contact us section.

Redevelopment of Hassocks Golf Club

I have received the attached and would encourage you to go along and see what the proposal is.  It might be worth keeping your thoughts to yourself until a more opportune time.

Link

Appeal documents

You can find all the Appeal documents by following this Link, or going to the MSDC Planning Portal, or copy the following address to your browser

http://pa.midsussex.gov.uk/online-applications/

and searching for an appeal with the reference AP/14/0052.

You can make comments to the Planning Inspectorate in a number of ways:

1. Online using the Planning Casework Service: www.planningportal.gov.uk/pcs 
2. Via email: teamp2@pins.gsi.gov.uk Quoting Planning Inspectorate Reference: APP/D3830/A/14/2226987, or
3. In writing (3 copies required) to:

Vicky Williams

The Planning Inspectorate

Room 3/10 Wing

Temple Quay House

2 The Square

Bristol BS1 6PN

Your representation must reach the Planning Inspectorate not later than 3rd December 2014.  Any representations submitted after the deadline will not usually be considered and will be returned.  All representations must quote the Planning Inspectorate’s Reference APP/D3830/A/14/2226987

Appeal Notice

Details from the Appeal Notice

If you cannot see the image here please follow this link.

I am researching the follow up actions we can take and will post again shortly.

Hassocks Neighbourhood Plan

Our Parrish Council are working on the consultation process for our Neighbourhood Plan.  Recently there was a questionnaire circulated in the Talkabout which received a fair response and the results will shortly be published.

On the evening of 19 September and all day on 20 September there is a public consultation meeting in the Green Room of Adastra Hall.

You can read all about the Neighbourhood Plan process here.

I cannot stress highly enough that it is OUR plan and we must get involved in order to shape how the village will look in the future.  There will be development, that is unavoidable, by being involved you can have a say on where and how that development is and how our community will be shaped and evolve.

Local Gap Saved

The Secretary of State for Planning has made his decision on the three local applications which were called in.

• 81 houses at College Lane, Hurstpierpoint – REFUSED
• 120 houses and a care home at Sayers Common – REFUSED
• 50 Ac of parkland and woodland, and 157 houses at Little Park and Highfield Drive (as the Neighbourhood Plan) - ACCEPTED

You can read more about these applications here.

This should be good news for us as the College Lane decision specifically discusses the need to protect the Strategic Local Gap.

I am anticipating that Gleeson will appeal the decision to refuse their application so we may need to start campaigning again.

A Date for your Diary

Although it is not much notice the application will be decided by Mid Sussex District Council Planning Committee on 1 May 2014 at 14:00 in the Council Chambers, Oaklands Road, Haywards Heath.

If at all possible please do come along and support us, the District Councillors do respond when the community turn out.

If you would like to speak then please can you contact me directly as I would like to make a co-ordinated statement so that there is as little repetition as possible and we maximise the THREE minutes each person has to speak.

Case Officer's Report on the Planning Application

Read the full report so you know what MSDC Planning Department are saying about the apllication.

If you cannot see the image here please follow this Link.

Department for Communities and Local Government issue Consolidated Guidance

On 10 March 2014 the Rt Hon Nick Boles MP Minster for Planning wrote to Coalition MP's advising that the final version of the consolidated planning guidance had been issued.  

"Planning should not be the exclusive preserve of lawyers, developers or town hall officials. This Government inherited over 7,000 pages of complex, overlapping and repetitive planning practice guidance. This is in addition to planning policy contained with the consolidated National Planning Policy Framework. A streamlined version of the practice guidance can now be found online in one place at: http://planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk"

He went on to say:

"We have carefully listened to representations from colleagues in recent Parliamentary debates. In particular, to help councils with their Local Plans, we are:"

There are several elements which are of particular relevance to the Gleeson proposal:

"Issuing robust guidance on flood risk, making it crystal clear that councils need to consider the strict tests set out in national policy, and where these are not met, new development on flood risk sites should not be allowed. http://planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk/blog/guidance/flood-risk-and-coastal- change/planning-and-flood-risk/#paragraph_001 "

and

"Re-affirming the importance of Green Belt protection and ensuring its robust safeguards are not undermined when assessing unmet housing need.  http://planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk/blog/guidance/housing-and-economic- land-availability-assessment/stage-5-final-evidence-base/#paragraph_034 "

"Stressing the importance of bringing brownfield land into use.   http://planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk/blog/guidance/viability- guidance/viability-and-plan-making/#paragraph_025 "

There are also elements which relate more to the situation MSDC find themselves in with regard to the emerging Local Plan.

National Planning Policy Framework - Reasons for Refusal

In order to refuse the planning application the District Council must have a least one valid, bona fide planning reason.  This application presents Councillors with not jus one reason but many:

The purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development. The policies in paragraphs 18 to 219 NPPF, taken as a whole, constitute the Government’s view of what sustainable development in England means in practice for the planning system. 

Policy 6 of the NPPF is also relevant. It states that: 

The purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development. The policies in paragraphs 18 to 219, taken as a whole, constitute the Government’s view of what sustainable development in England means in practice for the planning system.

The significance of this is that the proposal is therefore unsustainable because the proposal is contrary to the following NPPF policies 

32 (2) the requirement for safe and suitable access to the site for all people 

32 (3) severe congestion 

61 integrating new development into the environment 

75 protecting and enhancing Public Rights of Ways 

109 (4) preventing existing development being put at risk by unacceptable levels of air pollution

124. New development is consistent with the local air quality action plan. 

Furthermore the proposal is contrary to the following key principles in paragraph 17: 

(5) taking account of character of different areas and recognising the intrinsic beauty and character of the countryside 

(7) conserving and enhancing the natural environment, 

Aside from these elements the proposal is contrary to the emerging District and Neighbourhood Plans both of which are at an advanced enough stage to be given considerable weight.

Finally consideration should be given to key policy 14 and the logical conclusion that the proposal should be refused because it is unsustainable and because adverse impacts of the proposal significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, when assessed against the policies in the framework taken as a whole.

The Rt Hon Nick Herbert Lends His Support

Our MP the Rt Hon Nick Herbery has written to MSDC telling them the application should be rejected.

If you cannot see the image here please follow this link.

Comments on the LVIA and Drainage Report by one of our Members

Have a read what one of our members has sent to MSDC.

If you cannot see the image below please use this Document link.

and for this image Document link.

Landscape and Visual Impact Assesment

Latest documents filed by Gleeson.

If you cannot view the documents here please use these links:

Gleeson LVIA

E-mail from Kirsten King

MSDC Drainage Response

This makes some interesting reading.

If you cannot view the document here please follow this link:

MSDC Drainage