This one comes up regularly, which it really shouldn’t. In determining an appeal against an enforcement notice relating to land in Cambridgeshire (DCS Number 400-029-772), an inspector has explained that ‘curtilage’ is not a use of land:-
Monthly Archives: February 2021
A matter of principle
An inspector has decided that an Essex council was mistaken in its view that permission in principle cannot be granted for development on land which is not on a brownfield land register (DCS Number 400-029-717).
The man on the Clapham omnibus
You don’t meet the man on the Clapham omnibus much these days but here he is in a recent appeal case:
In determining an appeal against an enforcement notice which alleged the material change of use of agricultural land in west Cornwall to a mixed allotment and leisure use (DCS Number 400-029-642), the inspector first gave his attention to getting the notice in order.
A flat refusal
The change of use of part of a ground floor shop in Leicester to three self-contained flats under Schedule 2, Part 3, Class M of the GPDO has been denied permission, an inspector declining to recognise the minimal scale of accommodation proposed as dwellings (DCS Number 400-029-654). As the debate concerning the expansion of permitted development rights continues we thought this case was one to highlight.
Vitamin Sea
Desperately in need of a dose of Vitamin Sea, we’ve been watching Cornwall and Devon Walks with Julia Bradbury on ITV. Julia described the coastal town of Salcombe as ‘chi chi’ so it probably ought not to come as a surprise that a camping barn there might be better described as luxury than rudimentary (DCS Number 400-029-508).
An unrestrained whim
In determining whether an outbuilding at a house in Buckinghamshire would be permitted development under Schedule 2, Part 1, Class E of the GPDO an inspector made reference to the leading court case on the subject, Emin v Secretary of State for the Environment and Mid-Sussex DC [1989].
A key question
Class M of Part 3 of Schedule 2 of the GPDO allows for ‘… a change of use of a building from…a use falling within Class A1 (shops) or Class A2 (financial and professional services) …to a use falling within Class C3 (dwellinghouses) …subject to the condition that before beginning the development, the developer must apply to the local planning authority for a determination as to whether the prior approval of the authority will be required as to…whether it is undesirable for the building to change to a use falling within Class C3 (dwellinghouses)… because of the impact of the change of use …where the building is located in a key shopping area, on the sustainability of that shopping area.’
Happy and free
Looking forward to the “happy and free Great British summer” predicted by the Secretary of State for Health it might be a good idea to gen up on the planning legislation relevant to caravans. Happily, we spotted a useful appeal case recently: in settling an argument as to whether the siting of static caravans on a site in Dorset would be lawful (DCS Number 400-029-263) the inspector recounted the relevant case law.
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.