The Adur Planning Committee met to consider several planning applications, including a retrospective application for bin stores, and a proposal to vary a condition relating to rooflights. The committee also were scheduled to discuss a two-storey extension to provide flats above existing shops in Lancing. Finally, they were scheduled to discuss the Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club training ground.

Queens Parade, North Road, Lancing

The committee was scheduled to consider a proposal for a two-storey extension at Queens Parade, North Road, Lancing, including an additional floor above the Co-op building. The plan included 21 flats (class C3¹), aesthetic improvements to the existing building, hard and soft landscaping, and refuse and cycle storage. Amended plans showed the addition of a lift in the southern part of the building.

The planning officer's report noted that the site is within the designated shopping area of Lancing, and that there is no objection in principle to residential development above ground floor which will contribute towards meeting the council's housing need. The report also noted that the site is located within the 'village heart' within the Lancing Vision 2012, which sets out the future vision and aims for the village and seeks to focus activity in this part of the town in order to create a vibrant and thriving town centre, rich in activity.

The planning officer's report stated that the existing building has little architectural merit, and that its appearance within the street scene is dominated by the heavy projecting canopy which visually separates the ground-floor uses from the residential accommodation above. The report also stated that the appearance of the upper floor has been further undermined over time by the replacement of most of the windows fronting North Road in a plainer style compared to the originals, and that cracked render and missing tiles on the feature panels add to its 'tired' appearance.

The planning officer's report stated that the proposal would provide a mix of studio, one, two, three and four-bedroom dwelling units, and that this complies with policy 20 of the Adur Local Plan, which states that new residential development should incorporate a range of dwelling sizes, including family-sized units.

The planning officer's report stated that the council could not demonstrate a five-year housing land supply of deliverable housing sites, and that this means that for decision taking, paragraph 11 d) of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF 2024) applies.

The planning officer's report stated that the NPPF attaches substantial weight to the value of using brownfield sites for new homes.

The planning officer's report stated that a viability appraisal had been submitted with the application which stated that the development was unable to provide affordable housing for viability reasons. The report also stated that this was sent to the council's consultants, Dixon Searle, for an independent assessment, and that they largely agreed with the developer's assessment but considered that a total contribution of £80,273 was viable.

The planning officer's report recommended that delegated authority be granted to the Head of Planning to grant planning permission subject to conditions, and the completion of a s106 agreement², to secure £80,273 of financial contributions.

4 Havenside, Shoreham-by-sea

The committee was scheduled to discuss a request to vary condition 7 of planning permission AWDM/1715/23 at 4 Havenside, Shoreham-by-sea. The original permission allowed for works to the roof of the dwelling, and condition 7 required certain rooflight windows to be obscure-glazed.

The applicant, Ms Sara Jamieson, requested that the condition be varied to allow rooflights on the eastern slope to be clear glazed apart from the rooflight serving the shower room. The application also proposed that the lower section of the two double rooflights on the southern end of the western roof slope serving the master bedroom shall be fixed shut.

The planning officer's report noted that the original application, AWDM/1715/23, identified some elements of the development, i.e. rear gable and side dormer as permitted development³.

The planning officer's report stated that representations had been received from the owner/occupier of nos. 2 and 6 Havenside and 28 Kings Walk raising concerns about overlooking, loss of privacy, overdevelopment, loss of light, and noise.

The planning officer's report stated that in March 2025, the council was contacted by two adjacent occupiers/owners who advised that they had not received notification from the council of the original planning application in late 2023/early 2024. The report also stated that officers have checked and found that the council has a record of printing and posting letters to their addresses and other neighbours on 13 December 2023.

The planning officer's report stated that the relevant issues are the effects on the amenities of neighbouring residential occupiers and the effect on the character and appearance of the existing building and surrounding locality in terms of visual amenity.

The planning officer's report recommended that the application be approved, and that condition 7 be reworded to allow all east-facing rooflights to remain clear glazed (except the shower room), and to ensure that the three rooflights to the master bedroom in the west slope must also be obscure glazed and that the lower sections of the two double-length windows are unopenable, in order to minimise neighbouring impact.

Brighton And Hove Albion Training Ground, 60 Mash Barn Lane, Lancing

The committee was scheduled to discuss an application relating to Brighton And Hove Albion Training Ground, 60 Mash Barn Lane, Lancing. The application sought approval of details reserved by conditions 3 (CEMP[^5]), 4 (Materials), 5 (Landscaping) and 6 (PV Panels/Energy Efficiency) of application AWDM/1188/24.

The planning officer's report noted that planning permission was granted at the February Planning Committee for proposed covered padel courts along with an associated 2-storey building comprising changing rooms and office/classroom space (AWDM/1188/24). The report also noted that in granting permission, members expressed concern at the use of a white roof cover over the padel courts, but that the applicants responded by stating that a white colour was more energy efficient as it would allow in the most natural light and therefore reduce reliance on artificial lighting.

The planning officer's report stated that the club's preferred colour for the canopy over the padel courts is a translucent white roof material with blue vertical walls, similar to that used for the covered football pitch to the west. The report also stated that a supporting statement submitted by the applicants' sports consultants explains that opaque roofs require more artificial lighting to be used, and that natural lighting creates a better playing experience.

The planning officer's report stated that a padel cover colour analysis had also been submitted to further support the use of a white roof, and that it stated that the overall colour scheme can already be found elsewhere on the site and use of an alternative colour would appear discordant.

The planning officer's report stated that the applicants were asked to submit details of how much energy would be saved by using a white roof rather than a darker colour, and that it was found that a white roof has a 'solar transmittance' of 12% meaning that during hours of natural light padel can be played without the need for artificial lighting, whereas a blue opaque cover has a solar transmittance value of 0% meaning no natural light can penetrate the cover and artificial lighting will be needed at all times.

The planning officer's report recommended that the conditions be approved in accordance with the submitted details.

Car Park, Southwick Square, Southwick

The committee was scheduled to discuss a part-retrospective application for change of use of three parking spaces to create two enclosed refuse storage areas in connection with commercial uses in Southwick Square.

The planning officer's report stated that one of the bin stores (Area 1) has already been installed on the northern boundary adjacent to Southwick Library and the rear garden of 14 Southdown Road and forms part of the lease associated with the Flour Pot Bakery in Bank House. The report also stated that the other (Area 2) is to be installed on the western boundary, adjacent to the access road and garages, where it abuts a private car park and the edge of the Southwick Conservation Area, and is to be for use by other businesses in the Square.

The planning officer's report stated that the bin stores consist of timber close-boarded fences and gates, 1.9m in height.

The planning officer's report stated that the application is brought to committee as it has been submitted by Adur District Council as owners of the land.

The planning officer's report stated that the Flour Pot Bakery commenced occupation of Bank House in November 2024, and the need for an area to store waste associated with the use was identified. The report also stated that the provision of a bin store within one of the car parking bays was seen as a practical solution given the constraints of the site and in order to avoid unsightly on-street bin provision fronting retail units.

The planning officer's report recommended that the application be approved, subject to conditions.