Friday 28 February 2014

Converting a barn or other outbuilding?


Another interesting from the planning portal, an article for those wishing to convert a barn, mill or other farm outbuilding:

Planning Minister Nick Boles has reassured MPs that the Government is well aware of the arguments being put forward to exempt National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty from proposals to introduce permitted development rights for redundant agricultural buildings.
Campaigners fear that change in permitted development could lead to large numbers of isolated new homes in unsustainable or inappropriate locations.
The minister told the Commons “the intention behind the proposed permitted developed right is to bring forward more housing on land that is already developed, and to make maximum use of the buildings that our ancestors saw fit to build, so that we do not have to put up any more buildings on green fields than is necessary to meet our housing and other needs”.
He added: “I recognise, however, and the Government recognise, that national parks and AONBs are so called for a reason and have a special status. It is a status we must respect, and it is important that we think hard and listen to the arguments put to us about the appropriateness of this measure in those areas.
“Although I cannot anticipate the Government’s final position, I reassure Parliament that the Government have heard the arguments loud and clear.”
Earlier he had agreed with fellow Conservative MPs who queued up to voice concern during an adjournment debate that “it might well be appropriate for national parks to retain the ability to decide on a case-by-case basis whether such development is possible”.

Roger Milne

www.gbs-designs.co.uk

Thursday 20 February 2014

New BBC series - Permission Impossible: Britain’s Planners

See below from the Planning Portal:

Planning back on prime-time TV
The ground-breaking television programme Planners is back next week for a second series with a new title and a new slot on BBC Two.

Permission Impossible: Britain’s Planners will return on Tuesday 25 February 2014 at 7pm on BBC Two. The eight-part series will transmit daily from Tuesdays to Fridays, over two weeks.

The programme makers have promised to carry on lifting the lid on the decisions behind planning approvals and refusals.

“We’ll reveal the secrets of the planners; the misconceptions of homeowners and we’ll expose those with a blatant disregard for planning regulations. We’ll show the lengths homeowners will go to protect their properties from disputes with developers intent on building large-scale housing developments to clashes even closer to home - neighbour against neighbour fighting it out over extensions, conversions, and garden erections.

“Every planning battle creates fierce argument on both sides. But there can only be one winner,” say the production team.

Over the first three nights the series will focus on Redrow’s plans for 1,500 homes at Ellesmere Port, a builders’ yard extension, the fight to save a Grade ll listed building and a race against time to extend a Turkish restaurant.

Other highlights will include a tussle between a newly located mansion house and a tree house and a pair of naturists who hope their outdoor pursuits will see off plans for a big house next door.

Roger Milne

Thursday 13 February 2014

GOVERNMENT ACTS OVER BIDS TO THWART OFFICE-TO-HOMES CONVERSIONS

GOVERNMENT ACTS OVER BIDS TO THWART OFFICE-TO-HOMES CONVERSIONS

This could be interesting.

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/general/news/stories/2014/february14/130214/130214_1

The simple fact is that we need more homes and due to business and commercial shifts we have offices and retail outlets that are vacant.