Flexible industrial unit at Unit A1, Old Brighton Road, Langley Green, Crawley

The site and its setting

The vacant unit is in an industrial estate near Gatwick Airport, with shared access and flood zones affecting the service yard and building.

“The application site is located within the Lowfield Heath Industrial Estate, located immediately south of Gatwick Airport and to the north of the Lowfield Heath Roundabout junction of the A23. Access to the site is achieved via Old Brighton Road South, which provides a shared access to both Units A1 and A2. Unit A1 is currently vacant, with permission for B8 use only.”

“The site is defined as a Main Employment Area within the Local Plan and is also within the Gatwick Airport Safeguarded Land. The site is covered by an Article 4 Direction (to remove permitted development rights to convert the buildings to residential) and is within the red zone for Great Crested Newts. The service yard and access are located within Flood Zone 2 with the building located within Flood Zone 1.”

Officer report

Earlier permissions

Earlier permissions covered replacement windows, the original warehouse units, and related flexible use and access works at the adjoining unit.

“Unit A2 CR/2025/0179/FUL - Refurbishment (including external alterations) and extension to existing warehouse, reconfiguration of yard and parking areas, and associated works related to the continued use of the Site for Class B8 (Storage and Distribution), and / or Class B2 (General Industrial) and / or Class E(g)(iii) (Light Industrial) uses. Permitted and implemented.”

“CR/2024/0204/FUL - Stopping up of the existing access to the Gatwick coachworks from Old Brighton Road South and replacement with new landscaping; reconfiguration of access to unit A1 to allow access to both units (A1 and A2); refurbishment of the internal space; installation of two new level loading doors on northern elevation of unit A2; installation of new fencing between units A1 and A2, parking provision (including EV spaces) covered cycle storage and refuse and…”

Officer report

What happened at committee

A senior planning officer gave a verbal summary and explained that an administrative error meant the application should be decided by officers instead.

The committee vote

The committee voted on a revised recommendation to delegate the decision to permit the application.

“The Committee then moved to a vote on the amended recommendation, which was moved by Councillor Rana as the Chair and seconded by Councillor LeTissier as the Vice-Chair.”

Minutes

The decision

The application was delegated for approval subject to completing a legal agreement and complying with the report’s conditions.

“Delegate the decision to permit the application to the Head of Economy and Planning subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement and the conditions set out in report PES/524b.”

Minutes