MINUTES of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on Monday 3rd August 2026 at 7.30 pm in the Hurstpierpoint Village Centre.
Members present: Cllr Helen Bedford (Chair) Cllr Michael Avery Cllr Susan Dyke Cllr Sarah Baldey
Cllr Julia Shorrocks Cllr Lindsay Thompson
Also present: Gemma Porteous (Assistant Clerk)
Absent: Cllr Bob Sampson Cllr Shaun Hole
P26/27020: Apologies for Absence: Apologies were received from Cllr Bob Sampson and it was:
RESOLVED: That the Committee ACCEPTS the apologies for absence from Cllr Bob Sampson
P26/27021: Declarations of Interest: All committee members declared a non-pecuniary interest in 8.1, 8.2, 8.3
P26/27022: Minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held 6th July 2026: It was:
RESOLVED: That the Committee AGREED the Planning Committee minutes of 6th July 2026.
P26/27023: Adjournment for questions from the public: There was one member of the public present, who spoke in support of 6.5
P26/27024: Applications – Committee decision: The Committee considered the following and made RECOMMENDATIONS to the Planning authority:
- 37 Highfield Drive, Hurstpierpoint. DM/26/1571 Proposed garage conversion to create a wheelchair-accessible bed and living space and accessible wet-room.
RECOMMENDATION: The Committee recommends that MSDC grant permission if the application meets the requirements for a disabled living area.
- Little Washbrook Farmhouse, Brighton Road, Hurstpierpoint. SDNP/26/02615/HOUS Erection of a single storey rear extension
RECOMMENDATION: The Committee recommends that SDNP grant permission.
- 1 Woodpecker Close, Sayers Common. DM/26/1641 Loft conversion with rear dormer and front rooflights.
RECOMMENDATION: The Committee has no objection in principle to the loft conversion, however does feel that the proposed dormer is too large.
- The Cottage And The Old Barn, Southbrooks, Danworth Lane, Hurstpierpoint. DM/26/1392 Erection of a car port on top of existing hardstanding. Amended Plans received 10.07.2026 showing triple bay garage/carport with pitched roofline.
RECOMMENDATION: The Committee recommends that MSDC grant permission and find the amended plans to be an approvement on the previous.
- Land Parcel To The North Of Nos. 42-54 Hurst Road, Hassocks. DM/26/1132
Proposed tractor parking area, donkey enclosure, donkey stable, 3 shepherd huts and a wildlife pond. Retrospective consent for 2.1m high boundary fencing and access gates. (Additional supporting photographs, information and fencing details received 11.06.2026). Arboricultural Method Statement, Tree Report and Tree Constraints and Protection Plan received 13.07.2026. An application for the above was received on 14th May 2026. Due to the close proximity of this site to your Council boundary, it was felt that you should be consulted on this matter.
RECOMMENDATION: The Committee recommends that MSDC grant permission, but would request that a condition is added that this land cannot be used for housing in the future.
- 159 Cuckfield Road, Hurstpierpoint. DM/26/1527 Erection of single storey side and rear extension.
RECOMMENDATION: The Committee recommends that MSDC grant permission.
- 10 Furzeland Way, Sayers Common. DM/26/1584 Hip to gable roof enlargement. loft conversion with rear dormer and front facing roof windows. Single storey rear and side extensions. New vehicular access and parking to the principle front elevation.
RECOMMENDATION: The Committee recommends that MSDC grant permission for the proposed building works. However, the committee recommends refusal of the proposed new vehicular access. The committee considers this to present a significant safety concern, as the access is onto a busy road and is located in close proximity to a commercial garage. The proposed access would require crossing a wide grass verge and pavement which the committee believes would have a detrimental impact on the visual amenity and damage the overall aesthetic quality of the street scene.
- 55 College Lane, Hurstpierpoint. DM/26/1648 Proposed solar panels to be fitted to the south facing roof slope and a ground source heat pump to be fitted in the garden. (Amended description 24.07.26)
RECOMMENDATION: The Committee recommends that MSDC grant permission.
- 14 Furzeland Way, Sayers Common. DM/26/1172 Proposed two storey side extension with extension of existing rear dormer (Amended plans received).
RECOMMENDATION: The Committee has no further comment.
- 10 Chalkers Lane, Hurstpierpoint. DM/26/1304 Proposed single storey rear infill extension. Amended Plans received 21.07.2026 to show proposed window and door layout and retained pergola.
RECOMMENDATION: The Committee has no further comment.
- 14 St Georges Place, Hurstpierpoint. DM/26/1783 Erection of a single storey rear extension extending beyond the rear wall of the original house by 5.40m, to a maximum height of 3.90m and the height of the eaves to 2.80m.
RECOMMENDATION: The Committee recommends that MSDC grant permission.
P26/27025: Licensing Applications: Committee decision: The Committee considered the following and made RECOMMENDATIONS to the Licensing authority: There were no applications.
P26/27026: Information Items – Tree Applications. The committee noted the following applications:
- South Avenue Recreation Ground, South Avenue, Hurstpierpoint, DM/26/1802 Ash – Fell
RECOMMENDATION: No comment as Parish Council application
- Cemetery, South Avenue, Hurstpierpoint. DM/26/1800 Lime Trees x 5 – Pollard
RECOMMENDATION: No comment as Parish Council application
- Hurstpierpoint and Sayers Common Parish Council Public Toilets, Pitt Lane, Hurstpierpoint. DM/26/1809
Horse chestnut, previously pollarded to three main stems, northern stem has decay developing close to stem union – remove stem back to union.
RECOMMENDATION: No comment as Parish Council application
- South Lodge, South Avenue, Hurstpierpoint. DM/26/1815 T1 – Birch : Reduce overhanging crown on North side by 1 – 2m. T2 – Hazel : Reduce height by approx 2m. T3 – Hornbeam : Reduce height by approx 2m
RECOMMENDATION: The committee have no objection
P26/27027: Enforcement Action – The committee NOTED the following updates: No notifications received.
P26/27028: MSDC Planning Decisions: (All as H&SC PC recommendation, except where noted).
- Granted: The Committee noted permissions granted by MSDC:
- Garage Annexe, Big Edgerley Barn, College Lane, Hurstpierpoint. DM/26/0714 Incorporating existing ancillary accommodation within existing 1-bed dwelling to form a larger 3-bed dwelling.
- 23 Trinity Road, Hurstpierpoint. DM/26/1347 Removal of existing conservatory. Erection of single storey rear extension and associated internal alterations and alteration to fenestration.
- Hurstpierpoint College, College Lane, Hurstpierpoint. DM/26/0708 Refurbishment of the existing Sports Hall roof, installation of new TATA Trisomet 120mm insulated composite roof panels; installation of roof-mounted photovoltaic panels; and a minor localised alteration to the eastern roof slope to remove the existing internal valley and form a simple gable end, with the roof plane raised by approximately 150mm.
- 26 Fairfield Crescent, Hurstpierpoint. DM/26/1142 Loft conversion via hip to gable and rear dormer
- Applegarth, Halton Shaws, Hurstpierpoint. DM/26/1367 Proposed erection of a garden building and greenhouse.
- Refused: The Committee noted refused applications by MSDC:
- Ailsa Craig, Abberton Field, Hurstpierpoint. DM/26/1213 Retrospective planning permission for external cladding.
- Withdrawn: There are no withdrawn applications.
- 53 The Grange, Hurstpierpoint. DM/26/1441
- Appeals: The Committee noted appeals: There were no appeals.
There being no other business the meeting closed at 20:20 Chairman