| Minutes of the Planning Committee Meeting of Tuesday 12th February 2013 held at 7.00pm. in the High Hurstwood Village Hall, High Hurstwood. | |
| Present: Cllrs. Dopson (Chairman), Harding, Rose, Sheard and Warner. Also in attendance Miss B Macklen, Clerk to Buxted Parish Council | |
| Public: 4. Mrs Butler, applicant to Popeswood Farm informed the committee that permission exists for a two bay garage with accommodation above in a different position. The revised location of the garage is to allow for turning within the site and the extra bay is for storage for tractors/mowers, required to maintain the 10 acres belonging to the house. The room above the garage would be a play room as the cottage itself does not allow for such a space. Mr Ward-Booth, neighbour to Grove Farm wished to express his concern at the application to permanently allow B1 (business) and B8 (storage and distribution) use at the site. Permission for a temporary use was allowed on appeal which included providing three passing bays and landscaping, which have not been implemented. Concern is also raised regarding i) safety issues in relation to large vehicles using the access lane and junction with the A272 and the deterioration of the lane ii) the unauthorised use of one of the units for a carpenters workshop and use of another for the household waste iii) the stewardship of the site given that there have been two fires iv) impact of such use on the AONB
Mr Best, agent to Grove Farm speaking on behalf of the applicant advised that the previous temporary approval was allowed by the inspector following full consideration of all safety factors regarding the lane and junction. Planning policy supports diversification of farm buildings to business which can be used as a valuable source of income to help sustain struggling farms. The lack of passing bays has been brought to the attention of WDC who have chosen to under enforce in this instance as it is considered that the existing arrangements suffice. The unauthorised use of the carpenter’s workshop is set to be regularised through this application, and any concern regarding development within 7km of the Ashdown Forest does not apply to this application as traffic movements would have already been accounted for via the previous temporary application. |
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| 1. | Apologies: Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr. Blandford and WDC Cllr. Buck |
| 2. | Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of 22nd January 2013 were approved and signed as a correct record by the Chairman. |
| 3. | Declaration of Members Interests in respect of items on this agenda Cllr. Dopson declared a personal interest in respect to items 4.1 and 4.3 on the agenda by virtue of either know the applicant or the applicant being a customer of the post office
Cllr. Rose declared a personal interest in respect to items 4.1, 4.3 and 4.7 on the agenda by virtue of knowing the applicants. Cllr. Warner declared a personal interest in respect to item 4.5 on the agenda by virtue of knowing the applicant. |
| 4. | Planning Applications In view of the members of public in attendance, items 4.6 and 4.7 were considered first:
Application No. WD/2013/0193/F Location: Popeswood Farm, Buxted Description: Provision of a triple detached garage block with playroom/store over with external stair access. Applicant: Mr & Mrs Butler Agent: Anthony Sherwin Architect Object – recommend refusal. The Parish Council would reiterate its comments from the previous application that the garage/play room as proposed is inappropriate in scale, size and design in relation the dwelling house within this setting. The garage has a large roof and is considered disproportionately large having an adverse effect on the setting of the listed farmhouse. Concern is also raised at the distance the garage is positioned away from the dwelling house given that the use of the first floor is for a play room
Application No. WD/2013/0196/FR Location: Grove Farm, Howbourne Lane, Buxted Description: Retention of use of former farm buildings for b1 and b8 uses on a permanent basis. Applicant: Mr R Marten Agent: Parker Dann Object – recommend refusal. The Parish Council appreciates that the current application is to continue to use the site as it has been used since 2006, however it still does not consider this to be an appropriate use of a site within the AONB beyond any designated development boundary. Although the majority of the units are currently empty, the intensification of increased traffic on the lane should the units be used, would form an unacceptable noise and disturbance in this tranquil area of the countryside having a detrimental effect on the rural and residential amenities for all residents of Howbourne Lane. There is also concern that if permanent approval is given, there will be no way of controlling the size of vehicles that use the lane. It is appreciated that the lane has been used for farm traffic for some many years, but this would not have included large lorries that would use the lane should all units be in use. The parish council is very disappointed at the under enforcement of the landscaping and passing bay conditions attached to the appeal decision notice, which the Inspector considered imperative to the approval of the application. The result has been the gradual deterioration of the edges of the lane which would only intensify if the lane were used more by large vehicles. Notwithstanding planning policy to encourage the diversification of farms and farm buildings to provide a valuable source of income to help sustain the farm, the parish council is still of the opinion that the access lane and junction is inappropriate for this type of development.
Application No. WD/2013/0060/F Location: High Hurstwood Lodge, Chillies Lane, High Hurstwood Description: Addition Applicant: Mr N Oliver Agent: Mike Hill Architectural Services Ltd No objection – recommend approval
Application No. WD/2013/0076/F Location: Warminghurst, Hurstwood Road, High Hurstwood Description: Two storey extension. Remove conservatory, add entrance porch Applicant: Mr & Mrs G Wearne Agent: Lanham Architects No objection – recommend approval
Application No. WD/2013/0106/F Location: Ashdown Cottage, 73 Five Ash Down, Uckfield Description: Proposed rear addition Applicant: Mr R Pope Agent: Mike Hill Architectural Services Ltd No objection – recommend approval
Application No. WD/2013/0178/FE Location: Brownheath House, Pound Green, Buxted Description: Extension to existing garage to provide two additional parking spaces – replacing existing poor quality flat roof with shallow pitched roof to improve both visual and weather proofing in the building Applicant: Dr J Pereira Agent: Mr D Nicholson No objection – recommend approval
Application No. WD/2013/0174/F Location: Abbey House, Framfield Road, Buxted Description: Single storey rear extension Applicant: Mr & Mrs Standing Agent: Mr P Cook No objection – recommend approval
Application No. WD/2013/0083/F Location: Buxted Wood, Buxted Wood Lane, Buxted Description: Two storey flank extension, loft space alterations and internal alterations to provide a single garage with master bedroom & en-suite over, a family room and rear guest bedroom with en-suite Applicant: Mrs S Wood Agent: Mr P Bayne No objection – recommend approval
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| 5. | Matters for information: Noted |
| 6. | Any other matters properly notified: None this meeting. |
| 7. | Announcements: None this meeting. |
| The meeting closed at 7.45p.m. |