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very outdated cottage.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.
> Testimonial
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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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