Mid Sussex District Council’s planning committee approved three planning applications, for a site on London Road, a site on Perrymount Road in Haywards Heath, and for the Hickmans Lane Pavilion in Lindfield. They also approved a planning application for a property in Lindfield owned by a council officer. The committee deferred a decision on a planning application for Slaugham Manor in Slaugham.

DM/23/2608 - 38 London Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 1AB

Councillors considered a planning application for the partial conversion and upwards extension of a building on London Road in East Grinstead. The applicant, Mr Matt Richards, was present at the meeting and spoke in support of the application.

The application sought permission to add an extra storey to the building and to convert the existing building into 14 flats. The development would include a bio-solar roof with solar panels.

The committee raised several concerns about the application, in particular the refuse arrangements for the property. These concerns focused on how the bins would be stored and put out for collection.

Several Members discussed their concerns about how the bins could impact the look and accessibility of the street in front of the site if the collections could not be made, due to unforeseen circumstances. \ -- Printed minutes 11th-Jul-2024 16.00 Planning Committee

The committee was also concerned by the proximity of the bins to a commercial business that would occupy the ground floor of the building.

Responding to the committee's concerns, Steve Ashdown, Head of Development Management, said:

...they could only decide on what was in front of them, and the refuse collection was something outside the scope of the planning committee. \ -- Printed minutes 11th-Jul-2024 16.00 Planning Committee

The committee ultimately decided to approve the application.

DM/23/2259 - Land to the rear of Central House, 25 Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 3XL

The committee considered a planning application for a site on Perrymount Road in Haywards Heath.

The application seeks permission to build an eight-storey block of 38 flats on the site, along with landscaping, parking, and refuse stores.

Councillors were told that the site had already received planning permission for a six-storey block of 28 flats on the same site.

Councillor’s had several questions about the application, and the meeting heard representations from Mr Alex Bateman, who spoke in support of the application.

The discussion centred around the height of the building, its environmental credentials, and the provision of affordable housing.

In response to questions about the separation of the affordable housing options to the rest of the housing stock, Officers informed Members that it could reduce costs to manage separated flats for housing associations. There was further discussion between Members on the viability of securing pepper potted affordable housing and how this was not always practicable. \ -- Printed minutes 11th-Jul-2024 16.00 Planning Committee

Ultimately the committee decided to approve the application.

DM/24/1161 - Hickmans Lane Pavilion Hickmans Lane Recreation Ground Hickmans Lane Lindfield Haywards Heath, RH16 2PX

Councillors considered an application for a variation to the existing planning permission for the Hickmans Lane Pavilion in Lindfield.

The applicant was Mid Sussex District Council, and the application was to amend the proposed floor plan and proposed elevations to comply with Part B fire regulations. These changes would affect the layout of the changing rooms and the roof of the building.

Several councillors raised concerns about the application, notably the provision of solar panels, and the layout of the changing facilities in relation to FA regulations.

The committee voted to approve the application.

DM/24/1103 - 26 Barncroft Drive, Lindfield, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 2NL.

The committee considered an application for a single storey rear extension to a property on Barncroft Drive in Lindfield.

The application had been called in because the applicant was an unnamed council officer.

The extension was for 4.3m, which was above the 4m limit for permitted development.

The committee voted to approve the application.

DM/23/2174 - Slaugham Manor, Slaugham Place, Slaugham, West Sussex, RH17 6FT

The Chairman informed the meeting that a planning application for Slaugham Manor in Slaugham had been withdrawn from the agenda by Officers.

The committee was told that Officers required more information from the applicant, specifically:

...additional information that needed to be reviewed by the Council’s viability consultants. \ -- Printed minutes 11th-Jul-2024 16.00 Planning Committee

The committee was told the application would be considered at a future meeting.