Agenda item - BH2024/02777 - Coppers, The Green, Rottingdean, Brighton - Full Planning

1.    The Planning Manager introduced the application to the committee.

Speakers

2.    Helena Hughes addressed the committee as a resident and stated that they had lived at Challoners for 30 years and had always shared a drive with Coppers and never experienced any problems with large vehicles. The property is located in a conservation area, and it is important to keep the driveway free of parked vehicles, so the peace and beauty of the village is maintained. If the driveway is widened there will be an increased hazard for pedestrians and road users. Users may be encouraged to illegally turn right onto Falmer Road. Coppers had a parking space outside its gate which was screened from the road. The site is at the entrance to the conservation area, with vegetation that is essential to the rustic look of Rottingdean and testimony to its agricultural origins.

3.    Simon Bareham addressed the committee as the agent and stated that the applicant purchased the site in 2015 and has reconstructed the property and the works are now complete. The driveway was temporary expanded to 5m. The application is for 3.7m and the access to Falmer Road would remain the same. The original red bricks of the driveway are to be put back. The 3.7m width driveway will not have room for parking. Driveway parking is not needed. The hedging will be retained.

Answers to committee Members questions

4.    Councillor Earthey was informed that the hedging was suspected to be a local species.

Debate

5.    Councillor Hil considered any conservation concerns were answered by the reduction in width. The councillor supported the application.

6.    Councillor Theobald considered there was no problem with the application.

7.    Councillor Robinson was glad to hear there was not room for two cars on the driveway. The councillor supported the application.

8.    Councillor Allen noted there was no objections from Rottingdean Parish Council. The councillor supported the application.

9.    Councillor Sheard was not sure which policy the ward councillor had objected to the application, and noted that heritage officers raised no objections, and neither did transport, or arboricultural officers. The councillor supported the application.

10. Councillor Loughran considered the proposals to have minimum impact on the property and area. The councillor supported the application.

Vote

11. A vote was taken, and the committee agreed unanimously to grant planning permission.

12.RESOLVED: That the Committee has taken into consideration and agrees with the reasons for the recommendation set out in the report and resolves to GRANT planning permission subject to the Conditions and Informatives in the report.