Here’s an interesting remark from an inspector who was determining an appeal against an enforcement notice requiring the removal of a timber play structure from the garden of a house in Lincolnshire (DCS Number 400-027-704).
Monthly Archives: September 2020
Cut us some slack
Given the current global pandemic, an inspector found it appropriate to cut some slack for a local planning authority, refusing to award costs against it for failing to determine a change of use planning application within the requisite period (DCS Number 400-027-724).
Punishing
The quality of planning applications can range from commendable to criminal but there is really never any need for this:
“In response to the Council’s punitive refusal reasons…”
(DCS Number 400-027-567).
A duty of care
Readers might share our disquietude at the following paragraph, taken from an appeal decision relating to the refusal of planning permission for a 60-bedroom care home in Cheshire (DCS Number 400-027-262).
Travelling light
Planning permission has been granted at appeal (DCS Number 400-027-526) for the change of use of a first floor tattoo studio in Norwich to temporary visitor accommodation despite concerns about the small size of the property.
Must buy some stamps
A sculpture of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s head profile made from crystals and set within a glass panel measuring 5.6 metres tall by 3 metres wide has been refused a second temporary permission.
A brown study
We all know that a sitting room is a habitable room and that a bathroom is not a habitable room. But what about a study? According to one inspector, determining an appeal in north London (DCS Number 200-009-576), a study in a neighbouring property could not be assessed as a habitable room:
News from PlanningResource
- The implications of the government's plan to introduce discounted homes for first-time buyers via unallocated sites April 15, 2021The government has announced its intention to introduce a new form of affordable housing for first-time buyers via exception sites that are not allocated by councils in local plans. Commentators warn that the new policy could raise challenges for local authorities and may impact on provision of other forms of affordable housing on such sites, […]
- Neighbourhood Watch: Locality urges continued use of offline consultation methods April 15, 2021Neighbourhood planning groups and other community organisations should ensure they use a mix of online and offline methods when conducting consultation exercises, according to guidance from Locality.
- How changes to the government's new commercial-to-residential permitted development right are likely to affect its impact April 15, 2021The government has introduced a number of restrictions to the final version of its controversial new commercial-to-residential permitted development right, including a size limit. While local authorities question whether the concessions would significantly reduce the potential harms caused by the new right, some consultants and lawyers suggest the changes could curtail developer interest.
- Ten key things that happened this week April 15, 2021Ten of the biggest stories from the past week, including news that three local authorities have indicated that they intend to submit an annual position statement (APS) to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) in a bid to confirm for a 12-month period that they have a five-year housing land supply.
- Inspector blocks Leicester chippy PD conversion, saying 8 sqm flats 'too small' to be considered housing April 15, 2021An inspector has dismissed an appeal for a Leicester chip ship to be converted into three self-contained flats each measuring just eight to nine square metres under permitted development (PD) rights, finding that the units would be too small to provide enough "room to move" for occupiers and so would not constitute a dwellinghouse.
- London council loses High Court battle to impose greater controls on HS2 lorry movements April 15, 2021A west London council has failed in a High Court bid to overturn an inspector's decision and exert closer control over heavy lorry movements to and from five High Speed Two (HS2) construction sites in its area.
- RTPI and POS challenge proposal to link new homes bonus payments with past housing delivery record April 15, 2021The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and the Planning Officers Society (POS) have raised concerns about government plans to link New Homes Bonus (NHB) payments to a council's past housing delivery record, with POS claiming the move could "disadvantage" authorities with successful performance in this area.
- Developer withdraws High Court challenge to Jenrick’s refusal of 20-storey Norwich city centre tower April 15, 2021The developer behind controversial plans for a 1,250-home, 20-storey development in Norwich city centre has withdrawn from a High Court action against the secretary of state's decision to refuse the scheme and has announced it will instead prepare revised proposals for the site.
- 'Departure of immigrants from London has not caused house prices to drop' April 15, 2021A report claiming that the flight of foreign-born residents from London in the past year has had no impact on lowering house prices features in today's newspaper round-up.
- Developer submits plans for 1,250-home development in south London April 14, 2021Plans have been submitted for a 1,250-home development on brownfield land in Bexley, south London.