Disastrous change to Wandsworth Planning Post Reply

[ASG]

Hi ndubz,

We've been working with some of those affected in Lambeth for a while and were really shocked to see this now happening in Wandsworth - a Planning Dept who have always, up until now, been the most approachable and sensible!

[ndubz]

Hi ASG - Lambeth are actually basing their decision on the majority consensus published on the The Planning Jungle website which attempts to bring some order to the decisions that have been made and really shouldn't, as a privately owned website, be the basis of council decision making.  They have gone above and beyond applying the results of the Natal Road decision to current and future requests by adding in a passage gleaned from that website regarding the originality of the outrigger. It really is a terribly confused issue and needs clarity at government level. 

Ive noticed now a few appeals fail based on Class A... its almost as if inspectors have been told to fail these projects in any way they can?!

Ive emailed the secretary of state (James Brokenshire) and recommend anyone do that same in order to get clarity on this issue.  Im willing to bet there are builds under construction at the moment that have applied for the LDC expecting it to be issued.

[ndubz]

Also ASG - which Oxford decision are they using? Thanks!

[pie81]

So are they saying (or intending to say) these extensions can’t be done at all, or only that they will now require planning permission rather than coming under permitted development?

If the change is simply that these extensions will now need planning permission it isn’t such a big deal surely. But maybe it’s the former.

[ASG]

So are they saying (or intending to say) these extensions can’t be done at all, or only that they will now require planning permission rather than coming under permitted development?

If the change is simply that these extensions will now need planning permission it isn’t such a big deal surely. But maybe it’s the former.

Hi pie81, 

For more than 10 years it has been possible to maximise the space you could add in Wandsworth by using a combination of Planning and permitted Development - it is the PD part of this that Wandsworth now seem to be targeting - so it isn't a question of being able to get the same thing with a Planning Application. Although this situation will vary from house to house depending on what is neighbouring and the precise design of the original house - and this is part of the issue, it is turning a level playing field into a ploughed field.
 

[ASG]

Hi ndubz,

Yes, it is extraordinary that Lambeth are using The Planning Jungle as some sort of opinion poll! Although they are really basing on that one decision you mentioned as many of the others are not equivalent and - as I'm sure you are aware - there are decisions that very clearly support the opposite point of view. There will certainly be people mid-build who will get caught by this - as you may know there's one poor family in Lambeth who built their extension before the decision was issued, got a refusal and are now faced with an enforcement action to take it down - despite being able to see several identical extensions from their back garden! Madness - and shows a complete disregard for their residents. The Appeal in Oxford is 3207119

[ndubz]

Hi ndubz,

Yes, it is extraordinary that Lambeth are using The Planning Jungle as some sort of opinion poll! Although they are really basing on that one decision you mentioned as many of the others are not equivalent and - as I'm sure you are aware - there are decisions that very clearly support the opposite point of view. There will certainly be people mid-build who will get caught by this - as you may know there's one poor family in Lambeth who built their extension before the decision was issued, got a refusal and are now faced with an enforcement action to take it down - despite being able to see several identical extensions from their back garden! Madness - and shows a complete disregard for their residents. The Appeal in Oxford is 3207119

Thanks for this ASG - that takes me to the Wandsworth case (if you have the Oxford link id be greatful) - and id be really concerned if that decision is now being used as the basis for a change in view given the inspector has completely misinterpreted the legislation again.
 

[ASG]

Sorry - this is the Oxford one: 3179870

[ndubz]

Thanks ASG - i PM'd you