Making sense of the various permitted development rights for change of use under Part 3, Schedule 2 of the GPDO is a long way from easy. In particular, many have drawn the conclusion that a local planning authority which fails to determine a prior approval application within the requisite period has granted permission by default. Not so, as we highlighted in No worries.
Monthly Archives: July 2019
One giant leap
As we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the moon landing it appears that planning has made one giant leap backwards. Get this: in Hertfordshire an appeal has been allowed and approval granted for change of use from light industrial to windowless flats under the provisions of Schedule 2, Part 3, Class PA of the GPDO (DCS Number 400-022-545).
The hands of time
If William Morris were still here he might be interested to know that, whilst many of his ideas were considered revolutionary in his lifetime, some have since been absorbed into mainstream planning policy. In particular, he did not share his fellow Victorians’ enthusiasm for turning back the hands of time in relation to the preservation of ancient buildings, and an appeal decision against the refusal of listed building consent for internal alterations to a thatched cottage in Wiltshire (DCS Number 400-022-320) is in line with his philosophy.
Celebrity gossip
Readers who move in certain circles might already be aware that, after his problems with a proposed private chapel on his Suffolk estate, Ed Sheeran does at least now have his wildlife pond sorted out.
Truncated
An inspector has authorised shorter visibility splays than deemed necessary by the council at the access to six dwellings in Suffolk, finding no particular justification for insisting on visibility splays suitable for a trunk road (DCS Number 400-022-073).
News from PlanningResource
- Neighbourhood Watch: Examiner proposes changes to Devon AONB plan's housing policy December 12, 2019An examiner has recommended that a neighbourhood plan in a Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) should amend its housing policy.
- What predicted housing delivery test sanctions might mean for councils' five year land supplies December 12, 2019Planning has forecast that this year's housing delivery test is likely to mean that 19 councils are likely to be required to increase their housing land supply. Where this results in local authorities falling short of their required five-year supply, some tough challenges lie ahead, say practitioners.
- The court ruling that legal experts say will ease green belt release December 12, 2019A High Court ruling on a challenge to a Surrey local plan may make it easier for both councils and developers to make the case for releasing green belt via plan-making, say barristers.
- 10 key things that happened this week December 12, 2019Ten of the biggest stories from the past week, including news that a Hampshire council has brought its moratorium on deciding new residential applications to an end after introducing a temporary strategy to mitigate nitrate outputs into sensitive habitats.
- Derbyshire council refuses 180-home Gladman scheme despite out of date plan policies December 12, 2019A Derbyshire local authority has rejected land promoter Gladman Development's plans for 180 homes on a countryside site, despite an officer recommendation that the application be approved because key local plan policies were out of date.
- Herefordshire refuses plans for 625-home scheme despite land supply deficit December 12, 2019Herefordshire councillors have refused plans for 625 homes on a greenfield site, despite officers recommending that it be approved and the council not being able to demonstrate a five year housing land supply.
- EU unveils green plan 'covering everything from air quality to the buildings we inhabit' December 12, 2019Reports that the European Union has unveiled a comprehensive plan to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions feature in today's newspaper round-up.
- Owners of 'notorious' unlawful Kent hostel hit with £14,000 enforcement penalty December 12, 2019The owners of a "notorious illegal hostel" in a former convent have been ordered to pay £14,000 after failing to comply with two planning enforcement notices issued by a Kent council.
- Landlord fails to block 'Soho-isation' office conversion in Mayfair square December 11, 2019A landlord's effort to prevent the "Soho-isation" of London's Berkeley Square by halting the conversion of an office building into a private members' club has been blocked by a judge.
- The councils that could face the housing delivery test's presumption penalty in November 2020 December 11, 2019Almost one in five authorities could face the housing delivery test's most severe penalty in November 2020 if their housebuilding rates do not increase, according to Planning research.