The MP for Orpington’s private member’s bill to make unauthorised development without planning permission a criminal offence and to prohibit retrospective planning applications is due its second reading on 3 December. The bill no doubt has the support of residents in Kent who made representations on a recent appeal (DCS Number 400-032-938) against the refusal of planning permission for extensions to facilitate the change of use of a care home to eight flats.
Monthly Archives: October 2021
Build, build, build?
In making an appeal against the refusal of planning permission for a new house outside the development boundary of a settlement in Hampshire (DCS Number 400-032-987) the appellants claimed support from a speech made last year by the prime minister.
No dope
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).
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):