Neighbourhood Plan Working Group

August 7, 2012

NOTES of a Meeting held at 7.30 pm. Tuesday 7 August 2012 at the Village Centre,
Hurstpierpoint.
Present:
John Lowman (Chairman) David Evans Judith Marsh
Rodney Jackson Neil Milton John Wilkinson
In attendance:
Stephen Hoyles (CLERK to the COUNCIL)

Apologies for absence and declarations of interest: : The following apologies were received prior to
the meeting and accepted : Stephen Hand, Greg Driver, Rosemary Burns. There were no declarations of interest.
Minutes of the Meeting of the Neighbourhood Plan Working Group (Sub-committee) 3
July 2012 and matters arising:
2.1 The minutes were accepted as a true record and signed by the Chairman.
2.2 Cllr David Evans requested that it be noted that the Burgess Hill ‘Green Crescent’ is existing public open space
partly in the Parish and includes some public rights of way.
2.3 Minute 4.3 – Consultation responses: Cllr Rosemary Burns had raised the question of the extent to
which the public responses were analysed. It was agreed that it was for the Working Group to inspect the responses and
consider any strong themes that might emerge. In discussion it was noted that the current working draft of the
Neighbourhood Plan generally reflected the themes of the responses.
Review of information: The Group noted the following:
3.1 Meetings held: The Working Group was asked to note that the following have taken place:
(1) Cllrs John Wilkinson and John Lowman, and the Clerk, met the Cabinet Member for Planning of MSDC, three
MSDC members, including two MSDC Ward members, and the MSDC Head of Economic Promotion and Planning,
on 16 July 2012 to discuss the potential conflicts between the draft District Plan 2012 and the emerging Neighbourhood
Plan. It was noted that MSDC had, in response to the representations of the Parish Council, withdrawn references to a
possible Science Park on the A2300 road.
(2) Clerk and Cllr John Wilkinson met representatives of Protect Hurst on 18 July 2012, to explain the current position
of the Neighbourhood Plan.
(3) The Clerk then met representatives of Thakeham Homes on 18 July 2012 to learn about their proposals for housing
development on site HP05 (College Lane).
(4) The Clerk and Cllrs John Wilkinson and Stephen Hand met representatives of Hurstpierpoint Society on 26 July
2012, to explain the current position of the Neighbourhood Plan and hear their views.
(5) The Clerk held a conference call discussion with James Morrison of DCLG Decentralisation and Neighbourhood
Planning Team on 19 July 2012, at their request, to explain the experiences of the Council, as a ‘Frontrunner’.
(6) The Clerk and Cllrs Wilkinson, Hand and Lowman met representatives of Hassocks PC on 2 August 2012, to
explain the current position of the Neighbourhood Plan and to hear their views.
(7) The Clerk and Cllrs Wilkinson and Lowman met representatives of the Woodland, Fauna and Flora Group on 2
August 2012, to explain the current position of the Neighbourhood Plan and to hear their views.
(8) The Clerk and Cllr Wilkinson met representatives of Rydon homes on 3 August 2012 to learn about their proposals
for housing development and public open space.
(9) Hurstpierpoint Society have submitted their formal response to the Parish Council’s housing questionnaire. (Ref:
Housing – response by Hurstpierpoint Society 24 July 2012)
(10) Kirkwells Neighbourhood Planning newsletter August 2012
3.2 Informal briefings: Further to minute 8 of the Working Group meeting of 3 July 2012, it was reported that
the Clerk had issued invitations to the following local groups, to meet to explain the current position of the
Neighbourhood Plan and to hear their views: Hurstpierpoint Society (accepted), Woodland, Fauna and Flora Group
(accepted), Hurstpierpoint College (accepted, date to be confirmed), District and County ward councillors (accepted),
Protect Hurst (accepted), High Street traders. It was agreed that an invitation would be made to the newly-formed
Sayers Common Society.
HURSTPIERPOINT SAYERS COMMON PARISH COUNCIL
&
3.3 Development proposals: It was reported that the following proposals had been received:
(1) Land at Langton Lane: Approx 1 Ha (2 acres) for housing, map supplied, 9 dwellings. (Ref: Okonkwo ltr dated
25 June 2012, received 3 July 2012; Okonkwo email 31 July 2012 and maps)
(2) Coombe Farm, Sayers Common: 13.1 Ha of land for housing. No map supplied. (Ref: email David Blake 25 July
2012)
Landscape Character Assessment – appointment of consultant: Further to minute 7 of the
Working Group meeting of 3 July 2012, 4 companies were invited to submit proposals to undertake an assessment. The
Group was asked to consider the Briefing Note advising on the proposals received and to agree a
RECOMMENDATION to Council. Subsequent to the Briefing Note a second proposal had been received from
Landvision and was reported to the Working Group. It was also reposted that MSDC had agreed that the cost could be
charged to the ’Frontrunner’ account. (Ref: BRIEFING NOTE – Appointment of Landscape Consultant 2 August
2012)
RECOMMENDATION to COUNCIL: The Working Group recommends that HDA are
appointed at a fixed price of £6,235.50 plus estimated expenses of £623 and application is
made to Mid Sussex District Council for the funds from the Parish Council’s Frontrunner
allocation.
Housing – review of shortlist of sites: The Working Group reviewed the current shortlist of potential
housing sites and to agree any revisions. Reference was made to the BRIEFING NOTE – Housing – review of shortlist
of sites – 26 July 2012 and to the Schedule of sites (long-list)- 24 May 2012 .
(1) Hurstpierpoint – current Shortlist: The Neighbourhood Plan target is 130 – 160 dwellings. The current
shortlist of sites for further appraisal and consultation comprised 6 sites, with a total capacity of around 250 dwellings:
In addition there are other smaller sites which are on the full schedule but although these could total around 25
dwellings Working Group had previously agreed they are of insufficient capacity to meaningfully contribute to the
overall housing targets. It was noted that these smaller sites each presented their own distinct issues which could be
best judged by detailed planning applications. It was therefore agreed that small sites should not be included on the
strategic housing allocations at this stage but it be noted that they could contribute 20 to 25 dwellings in the Plan
period.
RECOMMENDATION to COUNCIL: The smaller sites shall not be included in the shortlist
and the Parish 2031 masterplan
(2) College Lane (east) (HP05): Following proposals submitted by the developer, the Working Group reviewed its
viability in the shortlist. It was noted that the council’s appraisal (24 May 2012) had indicated that only a small
development could be considered for further appraisal, but this did not accord with the developer’s proposals. It was
noted that the recent meeting with Hassocks PC had emphasised the importance of retaining the local gap between the
villages and concern about the incremental loss of gap.
RECOMMENDATION to Council: site HP05 shall be removed from the shortlist and the
Parish 2031 masterplan
(3) Langton Lane: The Working Group considered this recently submitted site for 9 dwellings and whether it should
be added to the shortlist of sites. (Ref: Okonkwo email 31 July 2012 and maps)
RECOMMENDATION to Council: The Langton Lane site shall not be included in the
shortlist for further appraisal.
(4) Sayers Common: The Neighbourhood Plan target is 30 – 40 dwellings. No sites had yet been shortlisted for
Sayers Common and the current appraised list comprised 4 sites, with a capacity of around 80 dwellings: Cllr Judith
Marsh tabled plans showing further potential housing sites for consideration. It was noted that, apart from the longlist
of 4 sites, only the Coombe Farm site (Minute 3.3 above) had been put forward by the landowners. Considerable
discussion took place around the constraints of development posed by both wastewater and surface water drainage
matters. The wastewater systems are apparently at capacity and are seriously compromised by the combined sewers
which add surface water in times of high rainfall. The surfacewater systems are wholly dependent on the satisfactory
maintenance of privately-owned field ditches and drains to ensure that water drains to the west and into main river.
There is strong evidence that this maintenance has not been satisfactory and ongoing sanctions are extremely limited. It
was agreed that, until a comprehensive and sustainable solution is found to solve existing and future drainage problems,
the Council should not be planning for any new development in the village. It was also agreed, that in the Plan period
the village had capacity for 30 to 40 new homes, but only after the problems of the drainage infrastructure had been
resolved.
HURSTPIERPOINT SAYERS COMMON
PARISH COUNCIL
&
RECOMMENDATION to Council: No housing sites are allocated in Sayers Common and the
matter is only reviewed after a comprehensive and sustainable solution is introduced to
resolve the drainage problems of the village.