Two sheltered housing flats at Carey House, West Green, Crawley

“The site contains a part single/part two/part three storey building providing sheltered housing accommodation. Carey House is laid out as a square with a central garden courtyard. The building was originally built with 32 sheltered flats, a ground floor communal lounge, a hairdresser’s room and other rooms for ancillary purposes, such as a boiler room and bin store.”

“Carey House is located between West Green Drive, Town Barn Road and Spurgeon Close. The sheltered housing development is owned by Crawley Borough Council. West Green Primary School and the Charis Centre lie to the north of Carey House, but the surrounding area is otherwise residential.”

“Carey House was originally permitted in 1987. The following applications have been submitted for the site:”

“CR/601/1987 – Erection of 66 dwellings comprising 30 flats, 35 bungalows and 1 house. Approved 07/12/1987 • CR/2002/0126/RG3 – Erection of side and rear weather protection canopy. Erection of new aluminium double glazed entrance screen and door to existing external covered way to provide new internal entrance lobby area. Approved 17/04/02”

“The proposal has provided two additional sheltered housing units within an existing sheltered housing scheme owned by Crawley Borough Council. This has intensified the use of the site to an acceptable level and provided two much needed sheltered flats to help meet Crawley’s needs for housing for older people. The intensification in use of a site to provide additional housing accords with national policy and Policies CL2, CL3 and H1 of the Local Plan.”

“No additional car parking is proposed. Under the Local Plan parking standards, one space per two units for sheltered units is sought plus one staff space. Existing parking provision roughly meets that standard, with around twenty spaces on site. Parking does not seem to be a problem on site, with spaces available during the case officer’s site visit.”

“National Air Traffic Services (NATS) No safeguarding objection 2. WSCC Highways No objection subject to condition 3. Thames Water No comments 4. CBC Property Division No comments 5. CBC Environmental Health Officer No objection 6. CBC Crawley Homes No response received 7. CBC Refuse & Recycling Team No response received 8. Southern Water Ltd No objection…”

“Two responses have been received from the occupant of Flat 31 Carey House raising the following issues: • Lack of communication about the proposal and difficulties in responding due to lack of WiFi. Tenants have not seen the plans and have not been informed about the construction process • Public footpath to the rear of the building is used at night by members of the public. It should be for residents only.”

“The Committee then considered the application. Clarification was sought on the reasons for the application being retrospective; officers believed that the conversion works had begun prior to a decision being issued on the planning application. During construction water neutrality restrictions were implemented and construction had continued despite the development not meeting water neutrality requirements.”

“A Committee member raised a concern that existing residents of the development had reported a lack of communication about the application. Officers confirmed that consultation letters had been sent to all residents of Carey House regarding the application.”

“The Committee then moved to a vote on the recommendation set out in the report. The recommendation was moved by Councillor Rana as the Chair and seconded by Councillor Bidwell as the Vice-Chair.”

“Permit, subject to a Section 106 agreement and the conditions set out in report PES/503b (with the exclusion of condition one).”

“The Principal Planning Officer provided a verbal summation of the application, which sought retrospective planning permission for the conversion of a sheltered housing scheme in West Green to include two additional units. The officer updated the Committee that, since the publication of the report, an amendment to the conditions was required in the form of the removal of condition one, which was now superfluous.”