Agenda item - BH2022/00456 - Former Dairy, 35-39 The Droveway, Hove - Full Planning

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

Speakers

2.       Kevin Brown addressed the committee an objecting neighbour and stated that they represented neighbours, the main issue was unit 12 and they considered the new plans to be much worse than the previous, resulting in overlooking, loss of privacy, and an increase in mass and bulk. The light levels were an issue for the kitchen window and harm was great with too much glass in the proposals. The proposed ridge height was higher than the existing 12 Mallory Road and out of keeping. The trees on the boundary should be retained. Foundations were already underway. The earlier scheme was better, please refuse the application.

3.       Tim Cropper addressed the committee as the agent and stated that unit 12 would be closer to the neighbour by 2.3m, with a 7.6m separation remaining, which rises to 9m. The height of unit 12 has been reduced and is lower than the previous approval. The impact on the neighbours’ secondary windows was deemed acceptable, with obscure glazing proposed. The mass of unit 12 has been reduced. The separation distance has been reduced, with no significant impact on the existing neighbours. The scheme will include affordable housing and employment benefits.

Answers to Committee Member Questions

4.       Councillor Theobald was informed by the agent that the scheme had been carefully revised from the previous approval to improve the corner plot. The previous design had a poor relationship with the existing streetscene, and the new application is considered to have a more positive impact. A consultation process has been undertaken and Planning officers agree this is an improvement. Unit 12 will be 2.6m closer to the neighbour. The existing tree is to remain.

Debate

5.       Councillor Yates did not consider the application an improvement on the previous planning permission, with the corner plot appearing to be a combination of bad ideas. The proposal does not sit well on the site, or with Mallory Road. The visual benefits are not good; however, the scheme is policy complaint and therefore acceptable. The councillor supported the application.

6.       Councillor Theobald was very pleased the wall will be rebuilt and the tree would be retained, however, the move closer to the neighbour at 16 Mallory Road was not good.

Vote

7.       A vote was taken, and by 7 to 1 the committee agreed to grant planning permission.

8.       RESOVLED: That the Committee has taken into consideration and agrees with the reasons for the recommendation set out in the report and resolves to be MINDED TO GRANT planning permission subject to a s106 agreement on the Heads of Terms set out in the report and the following Conditions and Informatives as set out in the report, SAVE THAT should the s106 Planning Obligation not be completed on or before 8^th July 2023 the Head of Planning is hereby authorised to refuse planning permission for the reasons set out in section 13 of the report.