Keep Battling On!

We are delighted to have gained planning consent for a house on a site where refusals for the principle of development go back to 1998. The site has 9 refusals of residential planning permission. Our client bought the site several years ago hoping to find a way to address the refusals. His aim was a self build house for himself. After unsuccessful attempts we were asked if we could help.

When we took the job, planning inspectors has considered many issues and had rejected many applications. The site contained a poor quality storage building. We reviewed permitted development rights and gained permission to convert the existing storage building using permitted development rights. We demonstrated that this was a suitable fall back position and sought a new build house to replace the storage building. But planning officers did not support the replacement. So we obtained building regulation approval to convert the existing building to demonstrate that the conversion was a viable proposition. We made clear how the redevelopment would enhance the character of the area, sought support from local Councillors, the Parish Council and local people.

We are confident that national policy and precedent including Appeal Court decision support the proposal however planning officers did not. The application was taken to planning committee and approved unanimously by a junior and senior planning committee against the officers recommendation.