Residential Re-development

Working closely with the clients (a development company), the architect (BHP Harwood) and representatives from the local area, planning permission was achieved for the replacement of a vacant Public House within the City of Gloucester with 40 dwellings. This comprised a mix of flats and houses, with the proposal being up to four storeys high and of a modern design.

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Rural Estate

The Olivers Estate comprises a 80 acre country estate in Gloucestershire, with a Grade II Listed house with its associated outbuildings. Initially as a result of enforcement action by Stroud District Council (SDC), retrospective applications were submitted for: 1) stabling for 11 horses, a horse-walker and an indoor manege, and 2) the use of part of an existing outbuilding as a recording studio were approved. Subsequently, an application for groom’s accommodation was approved at appeal.

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Conservation Area - Residential

At Broadview, Chalford (within a Conservation Area) planning permission was obtained for the renovation and extension of a very outdated cottage. In addition, planning permission was obtained for a new detached 4 bedroom dwelling with double garage in the grounds.

Tockshill Cottage, Chalford was a small bungalow (again within a Conservation Area) where two thirds of the built form was an asbestos extension. Planning permission was sought for the replacement of the asbestos section, with a new extension on the same footprint but taking account of the roof space to provide additional accommodation at first floor. Following a successful appeal, and a further planning application, planning permission was obtained for a four bedroom detached dwelling, again with double garage.

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Equestrian Workers Dwelling and
holiday accommodation

The site is the home of a successful National Hunt racehorse trainer, and is an impressive Grade II listed building with its historic associated farmyard. For a number of years they had sought to provide groom’s accommodation on the site and accommodation for visiting owners, in addition to the owner’s own dwelling. Following extensive pre-application discussions with Planners and a Conservation Officer at Stroud District Council, all the Council’s objections were overcome and planning permission was granted for an equestrian workers dwelling, and a barn conversion to a holiday let, both to serve the enterprise.

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Variation of Conditions

Following instruction from a Fund Manager, planning applications
were submitted at two separate Industrial Estates (one in Stroud
and one in Stratford upon Avon) to vary conditions on existing
planning permissions. Both of these applications were successful
and effectively reduced the level of control over elements of the
use of the site, making the units more attractive to potential
occupiers and increasing the yields that could be obtained.

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Commercial Use

Stroud Carpets had recently applied for planning permission for a retail use in an existing Storage/Distribution site (Class B8 of the Use Classes Order) which they had withdrawn due to extensive objections from Gloucestershire County Council Highway Department. Initially a planning application was submitted for bulky goods retail, but following a negative response a Certificate of Lawful Development for a Proposed Use or Development was submitted for a B8 with trade sales use. This was approved by Stroud District Council (SDC) and the business has subsequently been successfully operating from the site.

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Conversion of Listed Building

Following extensive discussion with Officers at Forest of Dean District Council, a planning application and listed building consent were submitted, and approved, for the conversion of a Grade II listed building for a shop (Class A1 of the Use Classes Order) to Financial/Professional services (Class A2 of the Use Classes Order) at ground floor level with 3 self contained flats above.

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Residential Development

Planning permission had been obtained for a pair of semi-detached dwellings on a site in Berrells Road, Tetbury. Subsequently, an application had been submitted to separate the two dwellings, which was refused by Councillors at Cotswold District Council – contrary to the recommendation of their officers. This decision was appealed and the appeal and an associated claim of costs for ‘unreasonable behaviour’ were both successful.

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Small Scale Retail Development

South Littleton Stores (a small retail unit serving a village within Wychavon District) wished to extend the existing retail floor-space in order to provide a greater range of products. Initially the Architect submitted an application which was refused on highway grounds. Subsequently, following an assessment of the planning background for the site, a revised application was submitted and correspondence had with local Councillors, such that the application was approved.

In addition, it was discovered that a new building had been erected without any planning permission. As the works were done in excess of four years beforehand a Certificate of Lawfulness for an Existing Use or Development was submitted and regularised the situation.

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The Meaning of Development

This involved a tied residential property in Berkeley which had not been occupied for around 25 years, and had fallen into a state of disrepair (internal floors had collapsed and some roof tiles/guttering missing). A planning application to refurbish and extend it was refused by Stroud District Council (SDC) largely due to their assessment that due to the condition of the building the residential use of the site had been ‘abandoned’. This decision was upheld at appeal, effectively leaving a standing pile of bricks with a roof.

Two applications for a Certificate of Lawfulness of Existing Use or Development were submitted, based on the fact that no development was required to fully reinstate the use and all the works were tantamount to a repair. These were refused by Stroud District Council (SDC) but at appeal the Planning Inspector (in charge of the Public Inquiry) accepted that the residential use had not been abandoned. Subsequently, a planning application along the lines of the initial application to refurbish/extend was submitted and approved.

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