Revised plans for new church

Revised plans for a new church in Burgess Hill could be approved this week.

Sheddingdean Baptist Church is looking to build a permanent home off Maple Drive next to Burgess Hill Town Football Club.

Currently the church operates from both Sheddingdean Community Centre.

But permission was previously granted for a new church and community facility by Mid Sussex District Council.

However this permission has now lapsed and revised plans have been submitted.

The revised design is considered to be of an appropriate design, size and scale that is in-keeping with the character of the locality, accords with the Design Guide principles and preserves the character of the wider locality, planning officers argue.

Since it is on council owned land, the new application is before MSDC’S planning committee today (April 13).

Officers are recommending approval, pointing out the proposal would provide the church with its own designated space, provide extra community facilities and has been designed in a way to prevent any significant harm being caused to the amenity of surrounding properties.

Their report also argues the scheme would have a neutral impact in respect of highways and parking, impact on neighbouring amenities, trees, drainage, sustainable construction, contamination and impact on the Ashdown Forest.

Weight against the scheme would be the loss of open space, however permission for a church on the site has previously been granted and they consider the additional community facility ‘outweighs the negative policy aspects of the proposal’.

Part of the application site is used as an overflow car park for people visiting Burgess Hill Town Football Club and another area utilised as a kick-about area. There is a BMX track further to the north of the site.

The building would have a worship space, two multi purposes spaces, office, two storage spaces, kitchen, open plan office, three WCS (one accessible), coat room and a space for the friends of Burgess Hill Green Circle Network.

Four objections were received by the council.