Last spring the chief executive of the Planning Inspectorate explained that a large part of the reason for the delay in the handling of planning appeals was “the unexpected receipt of more than 1000 prior approval appeals for phone kiosks”. Here on the Blog we remarked that the interest in phone kiosks arises largely from their function as structures for the display of advertisements, and we suggested a solution to the problem (Whatever happened to ….)
Posts By: dcplatest
Group value
In dealing with an appeal against the refusal of retrospective planning permission and listed building consent for alterations to a house in Tyneside (DCS Number 400-020-918) an inspector has corrected a couple of common misconceptions.
Decluttering
Possibly, the council involved in this appeal case (DCS Number 400-020-987) has been caught up in the current craze for decluttering.
The case relates to a fruit and vegetable shop in Bedfordshire. The appellant was objecting to the imposition of a condition attached to planning permission for two display units on the forecourt. The condition required the removal of an existing wooden display structure within two months of the permission.
Hard sums
Here is an example of the simplified and improved permitted development system (DCS Number 400-020-975). This comes from an appeal against the refusal of a lawful development certificate for extensions to a terrace house in north London, in which the inspector referred to the various elements of the proposal as A, B and C.
To be or not to be….
If you think about it, the Prince of Denmark had a rather odd name.
Setting aside such musing, readers will be aware that Paragraph 145 of the NPPF states that “A local planning authority should regard the construction of new buildings as inappropriate in the Green Belt.” Exceptions to this include, at 145 e), “limited infilling in villages”. In a recent appeal against the refusal of planning permission for four houses amongst a group of dwellings in Staffordshire, however, the main parties disputed whether the group was a village or a hamlet (DCS Number 400-020-890).
Take your pick
An inspector has deleted a condition on a permission for an extension to a house in north London, finding it unreasonable because it sought to nullify an extant permission (DCS Number 400-020-704).
Make them pay
Anyone steaming after a written representations appeal site visit because the appellant has not provided access can take comfort from a warning issued by an inspector in a recent appeal decision (DCS Number 400-020-771).
Is this fair?
See if you think the following represents consistent decision-making:
The conversion of a mid-terrace house in a student area of Cardiff to a house in multiple occupation for six persons was dismissed at appeal because it was likely to have a materially adverse effect on the character and amenity of the area (DCS Number 400-020-602). The inspector in this case noted that supplementary planning guidance prepared by the council recognised that concentrations of HMOs clustered in small geographical areas can cause problems. Consequently, it set thresholds above which it deemed that the concentration of HMOs would have an adverse impact on the community. In the appeal area the SPG identified an upper threshold of 20 per cent of HMOs within a 50 metre radius of the application site. Beyond that threshold the SPG indicated that HMOs should be resisted. The council’s evidence showed there were 30 properties registered as HMOs within 50m of the site which equated to 79 per cent. The inspector judged that a high proportion of young people, most of whom would be absent in the summer, was likely to affect the provision of community services and add to the imbalance of the housing mix in the area. He found that the cumulative impact of HMOs had resulted in negative perceptions of the area among longer term residents as well as those who might wish to move into the area.
Lies, damned lies….
It has been said that there are three kinds of lie: lies, damned lies and statistics. The DCP Blog was reminded of this old saw on reading the following paragraph from a dismissed appeal for two houses in south Wales (DCS Number 400-020-748).
On the nail
An inspector has declined to issue a certificate of lawfulness for the use of a vacant shop in north London as a nail bar, ruling that it would entail a material change of use requiring planning permission (DCS Number 400-020-587).
News from PlanningResource
- Tory 2019 election victory: Live reaction blog December 13, 2019Leading built environment groups and individuals have been reacting to news of the Conservative Party's victory in yesterday's general election.
- 'World's first solar-powered railway being built in Britain' December 13, 2019News of the world's first solar-powered railway being built in Britain features in today's newspaper round-up.
- Tory 2019 election victory: Johnson speech promises 'superb infrastructure' across UK December 13, 2019Prime minister Boris Johnson has promised to deliver "superb infrastructure" to "every corner of the UK" and "the most far reaching environmental programme" in his general election victory speech this morning.
- Tory 2019 election victory: Seven key planning promises made by the party December 13, 2019Following a decisive Conservative victory in yesterday's general election, the path is clear for the new government to pursue its manifesto pledges. We look at seven key planning promises made by the Tories during the campaign.
- Neighbourhood Watch: Examiner proposes changes to Devon AONB plan's housing policy December 12, 2019An examiner has recommended that a neighbourhood plan in a Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) should amend its housing policy.
- What predicted housing delivery test sanctions might mean for councils' five year land supplies December 12, 2019Planning has forecast that this year's housing delivery test is likely to mean that 19 councils are likely to be required to increase their housing land supply. Where this results in local authorities falling short of their required five-year supply, some tough challenges lie ahead, say practitioners.
- The court ruling that legal experts say will ease green belt release December 12, 2019A High Court ruling on a challenge to a Surrey local plan may make it easier for both councils and developers to make the case for releasing green belt via plan-making, say barristers.
- 10 key things that happened this week December 12, 2019Ten of the biggest stories from the past week, including news that a Hampshire council has brought its moratorium on deciding new residential applications to an end after introducing a temporary strategy to mitigate nitrate outputs into sensitive habitats.
- Derbyshire council refuses 180-home Gladman scheme despite out of date plan policies December 12, 2019A Derbyshire local authority has rejected land promoter Gladman Development's plans for 180 homes on a countryside site, despite an officer recommendation that the application be approved because key local plan policies were out of date.
- Herefordshire refuses plans for 625-home scheme despite land supply deficit December 12, 2019Herefordshire councillors have refused plans for 625 homes on a greenfield site, despite officers recommending that it be approved and the council not being able to demonstrate a five year housing land supply.