1) NEW BUILD & CONVERSION TO PROVIDE 12 APARTMENTS

1)Planning Appeal To obtain planning permission for 12 one and two bedroom apartments in the centre of the Gravesend Conservation Area, Kent. ( See recently completed projects)

2. PLANNING APPEAL: ONEROUS LANDSCAPE PLANNING CONDITIONS

Description of project: Planning permission was granted for a detached chalet bungalow in Prinsted near Emsworth.

Site history: The original bungalow had replaced a previous bungalow destroyed by fire. The garden area is quite small, and was already planted with flowers, shrubs and a few trees.

Reasons for appeal: Two planning Conditions related to external landscaping. One related to the provision of a scheme for landscaping to be submitted and approved. The second required the planting scheme to be maintained for five years. The dwelling is situated in a residential area sited at the end of a quiet cul de sac. Any owner of a building would maintain their garden, and change and improve it over time. The Conditions would have meant that a drawn landscaping scheme would have to be approved, and maintained for five years. Any change from the approved scheme (for example removing a rose bush) would be a technical breach of the Conditions.

Outcome: A planning appeal was made against the Conditions under the written representation route. The Planning Inspector allowed the appeal, and the Conditions were quashed.

3.  PROPOSALS FOR 4.8ha (12 acres)  OF LAND TO BE ALLOCATED FOR HOUSING: NORTH OF BOGNOR REGIS

Description of project: Arun District Council have been tasked to find an extra 200 housing plots each year of the next ten years. The owners of the site wished to make a bid for 4.8ha (12 acres) of land to be included in a list of sites suitable for housing development. 

Site history: It is situated in a small hamlet to the north of Bognor Regis in the countryside. Part of the site has 550m2 (6000ft 2) of industrial units on the it, which could be described as a 'non conforming use'.

Planning: A bid form was completed and submitted early in 2008. Private consultants were employed by the LPA to examine the submissions. A report was due to be produced by the end of 2008, but has been delayed.

Outcome:  A draft report has been produced but not published on the LPA website, as of December 2009. However the Councillors have now resolved that the report will be 'taken note of' and will not form a part of LPA Policy. The final deliberations of the Council are awaited.

4.  PROPOSED ENFORCEMENT ACTION: RURAL LOCATION SOUTH OF CHICHESTER

A local Council proposed to take Enforcement Action over an alleged business use in a large garage adjacent to a domestic dwelling. Quick action was required to comply with the Councils timetable. After interviewing the user, and preparing a detailed report which proved that there was no commercial use, the Council closed the file.

5. CONVERSION OF STORE TO DWELLING

Description: To obtain planning permission in the centre of Emsworth for the conversion of a rear store to a two bedroom dwelling in a Conservation Area and within the curtilage of a Listed Building.

Site history: The store is about 40m2 with courtyard and has been in existence for many years.

Design and planning: A detailed planning application was originally refused, but after a planning appeal a revised application was submitted and approved.

Outcome: The project has not yet been constructed and planning permission has recently been renewed.
 

6. OUTLINE PERMISSION FOR HOUSING IN A REAR GARDEN

Description:   To obtain planning permission for two semi-detached and one detached house in a rear garden at the junction of two railway lines in Havant.

Site history: The site was the rear garden of a semi-detached house. The property was owned by my client, his sister and their uncle.

Design and planning: Initial consultations were held for a greater density, but it was decided to proceed with a more modest development. Due to the proximity of two railways lines it was necessary to carry out a sound survey and environmental survey.

Outcome: Planning permission was granted and the site sold to developers.

7. PLANNING APPEAL: CONVERSION OF HOUSE TO FOUR APARTMENTS, SOUTHBOURNE, EMSWORTH

Description of project: To obtain planning permission to convert a large semi detached house to four two bedroom apartments.

Site history: The house was used as a domestic dwelling, but had a poor internal layout.

Design and planning: After having prepared a workable scheme, three planning applications were made. Two refusals on the grounds of overlooking were received despite attempts to negotiate with the LPA. A planning appeal was made on the first refusal. It was considered that the Local Authority were not correct in their view.

Outcome: the Planning Inspector allowed the appeal and granted planning permission on the first scheme, vindicating the original approach. In respect of overlooking he said the whilst there would be some overlooking, it would not be significant or prolonged, particularly in an urban area such as this where a degree of overlooking is to be expected.

8 PLANNING APPEAL: DEMOLTION OF COACH HOUSE AND ERECTION OF A FOUR BAY GARAGE WITH STUDIO ABOVE

Description of project: To demolish an existing substantial Victorian coach house that had fallen into disrepair, and erect a new four bay garage (with studio above) on the same footprint. 

Site history: In 1999 a planning application was submitted (by others) for the above scheme. It was refused and the client made a planning appeal. This was dismissed, on the grounds that the new new building could reduce the amount of sunlight falling on a neighbours garden. (the Inspector said that his decision was 'finely balanced')John Groom was instructed, and advised that the height of the proposed building should be reduced as much as possible. A design was drawn up and John Groom further advised that a Chartered Surveyor should be employed to carry out an assessment on the amount of sunlight that would be available to the neighbours property.

 Reasons for appeal: A planning application was submitted, and was recommended for approval by the Council Officers: members of the planning committee held a site viewing, and without any technical advice from the Officers about the contents of our report, they decided to refuse the application.

 Outcome: A planning appeal was made, and the Planning Inspector allowed the appeal. However this caused a delay of about seven months

9 PLANNING APPEAL: AGAINST PLANNING CONDITION REQUIRING A NEW REAR DORMER TO BE OBSCURED GLAZED

Description of project: To convert the loft space of a 1920's bungalow to a new master bedroom, with two ground floor extensions.

Site history: A planning application was submitted for all the works. Part of the scheme required a 1.8m wide dormer window to the rear of the proposed bedroom: a smaller window to the front was shared with an en-suite shower room:

Reasons for appeal: Planning Permission was granted, subject to Conditions: one of these was that the rear dormer window should be obscured glazed, as it would stop any overlooking: the Council did not consult on this in advance and there was no chance to argue the case: the only other window was about 600mm wide at the front.

Outcome: A planning appeal was made: the case was made that if the views of the Council were accepted nationally, no windows would ever be allowed at first floor level on housing estates. The Planning Inspector allowed the appeal. However this caused a delay of about six months. Luckily the clients did not need to move in quickly