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
- Council approves local plan ‘11 years late’ January 25, 2022A report that a council in Essex has finally approved its local plan after numerous delays leads today’s news roundup.
- The councils facing the housing delivery test’s most severe sanction that would otherwise not be January 25, 2022Of the 51 councils that are subject to the housing delivery test’s most severe sanction - the weakening of their housing supply policies - only about one in five of them would not face the penalty anyway, according to Planning research.
- £64,000 bill for landlord who ignored enforcement notice January 25, 2022A landlord who showed “persistent disregard” of a planning enforcement notice has been ordered to pay a total of more than £64,000.
- PINS says in-person hearings can resume following lifting of government restrictions January 25, 2022The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has said that in-person hearings and inquiries can resume as normal following the government's lifting of Covid restrictions, but will not be able to reveal its long-term plans for staging events until the spring.
- Peers criticise DLUHC over decision to make post-pandemic PD rights permanent January 25, 2022A House of Lords committee has criticised the government's decision to make permanent two initially temporary post-Covid permitted development (PD) rights, claiming the move has been made without “robust parliamentary scrutiny” and could have an “adverse impact” on the public.
- Government plans to bring HS2 Crewe to Manchester bill to Parliament today January 24, 2022A bill that would provide the powers needed to construct and operate the HS2 route between Crewe and Manchester will be introduced to Parliament today, transport minister Andrew Stephenson has said.
- ‘New government cycling and walking agency will be statutory planning consultee’ January 24, 2022A report that a new government agency promoting cycling and walking will become a new consultee body for any big planning application leads today’s news roundup.
- The councils facing the housing delivery test’s most severe sanction for the first time January 24, 2022Of the 51 councils that are subject to the most severe penalty in this year's housing delivery test (HDT) - which involves the weakening of their housing supply policies - just three will face the sanction for the first time, according to Planning research.
- Council avoids judicial review over allegation of 'mistaken' permitted development approval January 24, 2022A district council has avoided a judicial review of its decision to allow the creation of two new flats above a shop after a parish council alleged that the authority mistakenly believed the consent to be covered by permitted development rules.
- Government announces 16 councils to share £3.7m digital planning cash January 24, 2022The government has announced that 16 councils across England have secured a share of over £3.7 million in funding to take part in trials intended to use digital technology to simplify and speed up the planning process.