This meeting of Crawley Council's Planning Committee was scheduled to discuss two planning applications and three tree preservation order applications, as well as receiving a report about Section 106 funding.

Planning Applications

• Longley House, East Park, Southgate, Crawley The report pack contains an addendum report to an application that had been approved at previous meetings. This addendum report sought to provide an update following the adoption of the Crawley Borough Local Plan 2023-2040.¹ The report concluded that the application, for the demolition of Longley House and the construction of 121 residential units, would be acceptable subject to the previously agreed conditions and to a Section 106 legal agreement. The legal agreement was scheduled to secure the provision of affordable housing; contributions for open space of £39,059.25; contributions for tree planting of £77,000; the implementation of measures within the Travel Plan and payment of a monitoring fee of £1440.00; the submission and implementation of a car club scheme; the submission and implementation of a car park management scheme; measures to ensure water neutrality; an Employment and Skills Plan; and a financial contribution of £8,451.08 for Employment and Skills. The affordable housing that was scheduled to be secured by the legal agreement would have comprised all 121 of the flats, and would have ensured that the scheme was fully compliant with the affordable housing requirements of the Local Plan.
• Ambulance Station, Ifield Avenue, West Green, Crawley The report pack contains an addendum report to an application that had been approved at previous meetings. The addendum report was scheduled to provide an update following the adoption of the Crawley Borough Local Plan 2023-2040 and the publication of the updated National Planning Policy Framework. It concluded that the application, for the demolition of the existing ambulance station and the construction of 39 residential units, would be acceptable subject to the previously agreed conditions and to a Section 106 legal agreement. The legal agreement was scheduled to secure a financial contribution of £7,418 for the Traffic Regulation Order; a financial contribution of £12,287 or equivalent on-site mitigation measures to address air quality impacts; a financial contribution of £38,500 towards off-site new and replacement tree planting; a minimum of 40% affordable housing (11 Affordable Rent and 5 Intermediate/Shared Ownership); the submission and implementation of a Water Neutrality Strategy; an Employment and Skills Plan; a financial contribution of £11,671.81 for Employment and Skills; and a financial contribution of £2,663.00 towards Sustainable Transport.

Tree Preservation Orders

• Oaks 8002, 8003, 8026, 8020, 8024, 8056, 8027, 8073, 8081 & 8068, Harlech Close, Pound Hill, Crawley The report pack contains an application submitted by Crawley Borough Council for works to 10 oak trees covered by a Tree Preservation Order. The trees are located on land adjacent to a footpath that links Blackwater Lane to Green Lane. The report pack states that:

  The trees comprise 10 oaks which form a linear boundary between the access road and footpath. The oaks are in good condition and provide an important screen between Harlech Close, the adjacent public footpath and Barn Close beyond.

• Oak 247200, Cherry Meadow, 26 Perryfield Road, Southgate, Crawley The report pack contains an application submitted by Crawley Borough Council to reduce the height and crown radius of an oak tree by a maximum of 2 metres to nearest suitable growth points. It describes the oak as a large, mature oak which, due its size is visually prominent and makes a good contribution to public visual amenity but notes that it has:

  large areas of necrotic/loose bark indicating possible infection which should be kept under review.

• Oak 247203, Cherry Meadow, 26 Perryfield Road, Southgate, Crawley The report pack contains an application submitted by Crawley Borough Council to fell an oak tree on safety grounds. It says:

  The tree due to its size, makes a reasonable contribution to public visual amenity however, it has been heavily reduced at some point and is now moribund and has an estimated life expectancy of less than 10 years.

Section 106 Monies

The committee was scheduled to receive a report, PES/475, about Section 106 monies for the second quarter of the 2024/25 financial year.