Five three-storey homes at Hawkins Road, Shoreham-by-Sea

What was proposed

The application proposed demolishing a commercial yard and garages to build five three-storey homes with garages and parking.

“Proposal: Demolition of existing commercial yard and garages and proposed redevelopment of site to provide 5no. 3 storey residential dwellings with parking…”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The vacant backland site was formerly a car repair yard and MOT station, surrounded by houses, shops, flats, a swimming pool and a retail store.

“The application site is a backland site which is accessed via a private road off Hawkins Road. It is currently vacant and contains a number of garages and was formerly in use as a car repair yard and MOT station.”

“The site is surrounded on all sides by existing development. To the north and east are the rear gardens and houses in Hawkins Road. To the south is a three-storey block of shops with flats over (Kingston Broadway) and to the west is Wadurs swimming pool and the Next retail store.”

Officer report

Earlier applications

Earlier redevelopment applications were refused, while permission for a similar predominantly residential scheme was granted in 2022 and remains extant.

“Planning permission was granted in 2022 for a similar development and that permission remains extant until 12th November (AWDM/0607/22). The main differences between the current application and the original permission relate primarily to changes to the design and layout of the proposed buildings.”

“SU/196/03 - Redevelopment With Two-Storey Block Of 8 One-Bedroom Flats & 17 Parking Spaces (Outline With Access & Siting Details) - application refused…”

Officer report

Why officers recommended approval

Officers considered the residential scheme acceptable because it would replace an unsuitable noisy commercial use, provide housing and improve the site’s appearance and amenity.

“In this case, the site is no longer in use but has not been marketed. Whilst the loss of the approved live-work use of the ground floor is a departure from policy 25, it is a material consideration that the previous commercial use was considered to be unneighbourly, through noise, activity and parking congestion, and inappropriately located. Its replacement with dwellings would result in a more neighbourly use for the area.”

“The site contains a mix of storage buildings, hardstanding and car parking and has little visual benefit to the area, even in its relatively secluded backland position. The proposal would clear the site and provide a development of more substantial height and bulk. However, its design would be akin to a mews development and its contemporary form and appearance is considered to result in an enhancement of the area.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

The Highways Authority, Public Health and drainage consultees raised no objection subject to conditions, while Southern Water required drainage details by condition.

“Subject to conditions to secure the noise mitigation strategy set out in the acoustic report and the plant noise recommendations, plus a CMP condition and the full contaminated land condition.”

“Surface Water Drainage: No objection subject to conditions…”

Officer report

Objections and comments

Neighbours objected over development scale, privacy, parking, highway safety, noise, construction impacts, contamination and emergency access, while one Kingston Broadway occupier raised parking and shed concerns.

“Overdevelopment ● Overlooking and loss of privacy ● Obscure glazing of second floor windows needed ● Mature evergreen trees needed along boundary plus new fence ● Increased parking congestion ● Hawkins Road already congested with school traffic and shop visitors ● Inadequate parking on site ● Garages likely to be used for storage not parking ● Poor visibility at point of access onto Hawkins Road ● Risk to highway safety ● Damage to access road ● Increased noise disturbance…”

“No objection but the existing parking bay is part of lease & therefore should not be included in any calculation of available parking spaces within the new development. ● What plans does the developer have to stop people using private parking bays? ● Existing shed also needs to be retained.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The agent was the only registered speaker and spoke in support of the application.

Members’ debate

Members considered the application favourable and asked whether PV panels could be required as part of the sustainability condition.

“The Principal Planning Officer presented the report clarifying that, although the proposed loss of employment land and redevelopment for residential use was not strictly in keeping with policy, because of the nature of the previous use and the noise it produced, it was not considered a suitable location for employment use. In addition the proposed development would provide home working facilities.”

“Members queried whether PV panels could be a prescribed part of the development and the Officer confirmed that condition 13 could be amended as such.”

Minutes

The vote

Members unanimously supported the officers’ recommendation with an amendment requiring PV panel details.

“During debate Members concurred that this was a favourable application. A proposal was put forward to accept the Officers recommendation and approve the application with the addition to condition 13 prescribing that PV panels be included. This was seconded and voted in favour of unanimously.”

Minutes

The decision

The committee approved the application subject to conditions and amended condition 13 to require details of the number and location of PV panels.

“Decision: Approve, subject to an amendment to condition 13 to include requirement for details of number and location of PV panels and Subject to conditions:-”

“Details of sustainability measures, including number and location of ASHPs and PV panels and details of any external ducting, to be submitted and approved prior to installation…”

Minutes