Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 8 October 2025 as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 October 2025 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To note any declarations of interest made by members in connection with an agenda item.  The nature of the interest must also be specified.

Members are asked to discuss any possible interests with Democratic Services prior to the meeting.

Cllr Penny disclosed a non-pecuniary interest in application 25/10601 and explained that he knew one of the individuals who had submitted representations on the application. Cllr Penny concluded however, given he had not passed any comment on the application, that there were no grounds under common law to prevent him from remaining in the meeting to speak and to vote.

Cllr M Wade disclosed a non-pecuniary interest in application 25/10653 and explained that although he was as a member of the Hythe and Dibden Parish Council, he had not participated in the Parish Council Planning Committee meeting nor had he passed comment on the application. He concluded that there were no grounds under common law to prevent him from remaining in the meeting to speak and to vote.

Cllr Dowd disclosed a non-pecuniary interest in application 25/10653 and explained that although he was as a member of the Hythe and Dibden Parish Council, he had not participated in the Parish Council Planning Committee meeting nor had he passed comment on the application. He concluded that there were no grounds under common law to prevent him from remaining in the meeting to speak and to vote.

To determine the applications set out below:

Demolition of existing buildings and re-development of site to install a battery energy storage system (BESS) including ancillary works and access arrangements.

RECOMMENDED:

Grant subject to conditions as set out in the report.

Details:

Demolition of existing buildings and re-development of site to install a battery energy storage system (BESS) including ancillary works and access arrangements.

Public Participants:

Mr Robert Garden - BW ESS (Applicant)

Cllr David Harrison - County Cllr - Marchwood

Comment:

Updates made to condition 10,13, and 15 were circulated in advance of the meeting via the Planning Updates document. 

The Case Officer provided a verbal update in addition to the Committee Updates published and circulated prior to the meeting. The update related to the condition on flood risk, and the Case Officer explained that the technical references within the condition needed correcting. The update was read out in full as follows 

Condition 17. Flood Risk: 

The development shall be carried out in accordance the approved flood risk assessment and Flood Risk Technical Note (FLOOD RISK ASSESSMENT AND SURFACE WATER STRATEGY  J-15750-NUK-XX-XX-RP-Z-1-S2-P 5 and FLOOD RISK  ASSESSMENT TECHNICAL NOTE  (Amber Planning)  dated 25/09/2025) and the mitigation measures set out in Option 1 of the Flood Risk Technical Note to raise all on site controls and critical infrastructure  by 600 mm above the 200-year flood level (4.41 m above AOD) accounting to the lifetime of the development. These approved mitigation measures shall be implemented in full prior to the first operation of the approved development and subsequently in accordance with the schemes timing and phasing arrangements. The approved measures shall be retained and maintained through the lifetime of the development.

Decision:

Grant subject to conditions as set out in the report.

Conditions/Reasons:

As set out in the report.

Detached garage/garden room with home office above.

RECOMMENDED:

Refuse.

Details:

Detached garage/garden room with home office above.

Public Participants:

Mr Stephen Shergold - (Applicant)

Comment:

Cllr M Wade disclosed a non-pecuniary interest in application 25/10653 and explained that although he was as a member of the Hythe and Dibden Parish Council, he had not participated in the Parish Council Planning Committee meeting nor had he passed comment on the application. He concluded that there were no grounds under common law to prevent him from remaining in the meeting to speak and to vote.

Cllr Dowd disclosed a non-pecuniary interest in application 25/10653 and explained that although he was as a member of the Hythe and Dibden Parish Council, he had not participated in the Parish Council Planning Committee meeting nor had he passed comment on the application. He concluded that there were no grounds under common law to prevent him from remaining in the meeting to speak and to vote.

Decision:

Refuse.

Conditions/Reasons:

As set out in the report.

Erection of two semi-detached residential dwellings (Use Class C3) and change of use of Public House (Sui generis) to allow for conversion into three self-contained residential dwellings (Use Class C3), with external alterations and associated hard and soft landscaping.

RECOMMENDED:

Delegated Authority be given to the Service Manager Development Management to GRANT PERMISSION subject to:

i)               the completion of a planning obligation entered into by way of a Section 106 Agreement to secure the mitigation contributions required and set out in section 10 of the report.

ii)              the imposition of the conditions set out in the report.

Details:

Erection of two semi-detached residential dwellings (Use Class C3) and change of use of Public House (Sui generis) to allow for conversion into three self-contained residential dwellings (Use Class C3), with external alterations and associated hard and soft landscaping.

Public Participants:

Mr Jake Russell (Agent)

Mr Craig Gomme (Objector)

Mr Robert Budd (Objector)

Cllr David Harrison, Ward Councillor – Totton South

Comment:

Cllr Penny disclosed a non-pecuniary interest in application 25/10601 and explained that he knew one of the individuals who had submitted representations on the application. Cllr Penny concluded however, given he had not passed any comment on the application nor discussed the matter, that there were no grounds under common law to prevent him from remaining in the meeting to speak and to vote.

Decision:

Refusal.

Conditions/Reasons:

1. The proposed development of this site which seeks to convert the public house to three dwellings and the provision of 2 additional dwellings within the rear pub garden area, would result in the loss of an important local facility and would leave the local area of Hounsdown without such a facility, reinforced by the objections from local people that have been received during the course of the application. ?The potential to change the use of the pub to an alternative business/employment or community use has also not been sufficiently addressed. As such, the proposed development is contrary to the loss of public house provisions of Policy DM19 of the Local Plan Part 2 Sites and Development Management Development Plan Document and Paragraph 98 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2024. 

2. The recreational impacts of the proposed development on the New Forest Special Area of Conservation, the New Forest Special Protection Area, the New Forest Ramsar site, the Solent and Southampton Water Special Protection Area, the Solent and Southampton Water Ramsar site, and the Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation would not be adequately mitigated and the proposed development would therefore unacceptably increase recreational pressures on these sensitive European nature conservation sites. In addition, the air quality impacts of the proposed development on the aforementioned New Forest sites would not be adequately mitigated and the proposed development would therefore unacceptably increase air quality impacts on these sensitive European nature conservation sites. As such, the proposal would be contrary to Policy ENV1 of the New Forest District Local Plan 2016-2036 Part 1 and Policy DM2 of the Local Plan Part 2 Sites and Development Management Development Plan Document and the SPD - Mitigation Strategy for European Sites.