In contesting the refusal of prior approval for a residential barn conversion in Somerset the appellant made a somewhat ill-judged claim regarding the former use of the building (DCS Number 400-032-919).
Monthly Archives: October 2021
Last orders
Everyone knows that times are hard for rural pubs and that they are closing at a pace. Nonetheless, an inspector has ordered that a canvas-sided pergola at a pub in the Hertfordshire green belt should be removed despite the appellant’s plea for flexibility (DCS Number 400-032-356).
Silence is golden
An inspector has granted prior approval under Part 3, Class R of the GPDO for change of use to a storage and distribution use in Staffordshire notwithstanding the council’s protest that only the bases of the barns remained (DCS Number 400-032-422).
The same but different
In determining a certificate of lawfulness appeal concerning caravans at a Norfolk leisure park (DCS Number 400-032-675) an inspector raised the question as to whether both touring caravans and static caravans can be regarded as the same in legal terms. The site already benefited from planning permission and a certificate of lawfulness allowing touring caravans to remain on the site permanently without ever being moved, and the appellant wished to establish that permanent occupation of static caravans would be similarly lawful.
Spoonfeeding
In dealing with a costs application associated with a Class Q barn conversion appeal in west Gloucestershire an inspector has made an interesting remark regarding the role of the applicant (DCS Number 400-032-738):
News from PlanningResource
- 'Government's defence of Surrey oil wells is height of hypocrisy' October 22, 2021News that the government is set to defend in court a decision by a Surrey council to grant planning permission for six oil wells leads our roundup of today's news.
- High Court quashes permission for 4,000-home urban extension in Kent October 22, 2021A council has agreed to quash its permission for a 4,000-home 'garden city' to the south of Canterbury in Kent after the High Court came down on the side of objectors who argued that the decision conflicted with the local plan and would have negative environmental impacts.
- 'Rogue landlord' handed £275,000 penalty by court for renting out unauthorised outbuilding October 22, 2021A court has issued a "rogue landlord" with a £275,000 proceeds of crime penalty for failing to comply with a planning enforcement notice regarding the unlawful construction and renting out of an outbuilding behind a house in west London.
- Build-to-rent could help cities meet their higher housing need figures, lobby group research claims October 22, 2021Almost 90 per cent of build-to-rent units have been built in cities where the government has increased housing need levels, according to new research by lobby group the British Property Federation (BPF) that it says shows how the sector could play a "critical role" in helping councils meet their higher home requirements.
- The implications of the softening of this year's housing delivery test October 21, 2021Research suggests that a government "adjustment" to this year's forthcoming housing delivery test results could mean that about a third of English local planning authorities escape a more serious penalty and, overall, significantly less are likely to face sanctions compared to last year.
- How the dismissal of a big housing appeal underlines the growing weight decision-makers should give to design matters October 21, 2021An appeal decision where an inspector dismissed a major housing appeal on design grounds, despite the authority lacking the required five-year housing land supply, is likely to see decision-makers emboldened to refuse unsuitable schemes on such matters, say practitioners.
- Ten key things that happened in the past week October 21, 2021Ten of the biggest stories from the past week, including the news that a social housing provider is facing a multi-million-pound community infrastructure levy (CIL) bill after losing a legal challenge.
- Local Plan Watch: Council adopts site allocations plan after nearly three-year examination October 21, 2021A Somerset council has seen its 12,000-home development plan approved by an inspector almost three years after it was submitted for examination.
- 'Planning permission may be required for government-backed home heat pumps' October 21, 2021A report that planning permission may be required to install some of the home heat pumps that the government has promised to fund as part of its environmental drive leads today's newspaper roundup.
- Emerging technologies represent "existential challenge" for planners, says lawyer's report October 21, 2021Advances in emerging digital and data technologies represent an “existential challenge” to the way land use is planned and developments are managed, according to a report by a planning solicitor.